Patent ID: 8191682

Claim:
An A-frame ladder: a first ladder having a plurality of first steps positioned between a first rail structure and a second rail structure wherein the first rail structure and the second rail structure have a distal edge in relation to a second ladder; the second ladder having a plurality of second steps positioned between a third rail structure and a fourth rail structure wherein the third rail structure and the fourth rail structure have a proximal edge in relation to the first ladder; a first bridge structure that interconnects the first rail structure to the third rail structure; a second bridge structure that interconnects the second rail structure to the fourth rail structure; a first groove positioned on the first bridge structure, the first rail structure and the third rail structure wherein the first groove is positioned on (a) the first rail between the first ladder's steps and the first rail's distal edge and (b) the third rail between the second ladder's steps and the third rail's proximal edge; a second groove positioned on the second bridge structure, the second rail structure and the fourth rail structure wherein the second groove is positioned on (a) the second rail between the first ladder's steps and the second rail's distal edge and (b) the fourth rail between the second ladder's steps and the fourth rail's proximal edge; a flexible gate barrier device having a distal end, a proximal end, a first side and a second side; the flexible gate barrier device's first side is positioned in the first groove and the flexible gate barrier device's second side is positioned in the second groove; in a first position, the flexible gate barrier device extends the length of the second ladder to (a) allow the second ladder and the first ladder to be used, and (b) inhibit entering, between the second ladder's steps, an area between (i) the second ladder and a structure positioned below the first bridge structure and the second bridge structure and (ii) the first ladder and the second ladder; in a second position, the flexible gate barrier device extends a predetermined length of the first ladder as an obstacle for a person to use the first ladder; the flexible gate barrier device moves between the first position and the second position.