Patent ID: 7931123

Claim:
A ladder comprising: a first section having at least one step; a second section having a least one step; a platform attached to the first and second sections; a hinge mechanism connected to the first section and second section, about which the first section and second section move between an open state, where the first and second sections are in an angular relationship for use, and a folded state where the first and second sections and the platform are essentially in parallel, the platform disposed below the hinge mechanism and above each step of the first and second sections when the first and second sections are in the open state, the hinge mechanism includes a first hinge and a second hinge; a first rail extending from the first hinge of the hinge mechanism and separate and apart from the first section and second section with the hinge mechanism disposed between the first rail and the first and second sections; a second rail extending from the second hinge of hinge mechanism and separate and apart from the first section and second section with the hinge mechanism disposed between the second rail and the first and second sections, the first rail and second rail rotatably attached to the hinge mechanism; and a foldable tray mechanism attached to the first rail and second rail attached to the hinge mechanism about which the foldable tray mechanism moves between an open state of the foldable tray mechanism independently of the first and second sections, where the foldable tray mechanism is in an angular relationship with the first and second sections for use, and a folded state of the foldable tray mechanism where the foldable tray mechanism essentially forms a plane with the first section, the foldable tray mechanism disposed above the hinge mechanism when the foldable tray mechanism and the first and second sections are in the open state, the foldable tray mechanism includes a first tray, a first tray support hinge and a second tray support hinge connected to the first rail and second rail, respectively, and the first tray; the first and second hinges each comprise a handle, which when compressed, allows the first rail and the second rail to move to the folded state from the open state of the foldable tray mechanism, each hinge includes a bushing and a first plate, a second plate and a third plate that are held by the bushing and rotate about the bushing, the second plate has a plurality of depressions and each hinge includes a pin attached to the handle that fits into one of the plurality of the depressions to place the foldable tray mechanism in its open state or in its folded state depending on which one of the plurality of depressions the pin is disposed, compression of the handle allows the pin to move between depressions, when the foldable tray mechanism is in its folded state, the pin is able to move to a depression corresponding to the open state of the foldable tray mechanism without the handle having to be compressed.