Patent ID: 6926119

Claim:
A climbing aid for assisting a person to step up or down, comprising: first and second steps, each of which has a front edge, a rear edge and opposite side edges, said front and rear edges each having an attached end and an unattached free end; first and second handrails each of which has a pair of separated legs and an integral bar connecting upper ends of its separated legs; said climbing aid having a first expanded position in which said steps are horizontal and said handrails are separated at said opposite side edges of said steps for gripping by a person stepping up or down on said steps, said first step being above said second step when said climbing aid is in its expanded position; said climbing aid having a second folded position in which said handrails have been moved adjacent to each other for stowing said climbing aid; the attached end of said rear edge of the first step being pivotally connected to one leg of said first handrail, a first link pivotally attached at one end adjacent to a central portion of said first step adjacent said rear edge, and said first link being pivotally connected at its opposite end to one of the legs of said second handrail; a first bushing extending from said one leg of said second handrail toward the other leg of said second handrail, said unattached end of said rear edge of said first step being supported on said first bushing when said climbing aid is in its expanded position; the attached end of said front edge of the second step being pivotally connected to the opposite leg of said first handrail, a second link pivotally attached at one end to a central portion of said rear edge of said second step, said second link being pivotally connected at its opposite end to said front edge of said first step; a second bushing extending from said opposite leg of said second handrail toward said one leg of said second handrail, said unattached end of said front edge of said second step being supported on said second bushing when said climbing aid is in its expanded position; and said first and second steps and said said first and second links being folded into said first and second handrails when said climbing aid is in its folded position.