Laterally stabilized stepladder

Claim 1

A foldable stepladder of the like, comprising a step-equipped main frame element and a brace-equipped supporting frame element each adapted at its lower end to stand upon a support surface and being pivotally interconnected adjacent their upper ends for transverse swinging movement between a closed position of storage in which said frame elements are disposed generally adjacent each other from end-to-end thereof, and an open position of use in which said lower ends are spaced apart transversely; hinged stop structure operatively connected with said frame elements intermediate their ends to establish the maximum open position thereof; stabilizer structure having at least one component movable laterally between inner retracted and outer extended positions and being operative in the latter position thereof to inhibit lateral tipping of said stepladder; said stabilizer structure having a pair of the aforesaid components respectively disposed along the opposite sides of said frame elements and each being movable laterally between inner retracted and outer extended positions and being operative in the latter positions thereof to inhibit lateral tipping of said stepladder in each lateral direction; each of said movable components comprising a support leg pivotally related to said frame elements adjacent the upper end portions thereof both for lateral movement as aforesaid and for transverse swinging movement to position the leg along a plane located generally intermediate said frame elements in the open position thereof; means associated with each of said legs for releasably constraining the same in the inner and outer positions thereof; said means for constraining said movable legs including a pair of retainer structures respectively associated with said legs for securing the same in the retracted positions thereof to one of said frame elements, and further including tie structure connected with said frame elements and having members releasably engageable with said support legs in the outer positions thereof to constrain the same against both transverse and lateral displacements; and said tie structure also including a depending bracket located intermediate said frame elements and pivotally carried by said hinged stop structure; a pair of arms pivotally supported by said depending bracket and respectively engageable with said legs in the outer positions thereof to constrain the same as aforesaid; and said tie structure further including a pair of hinged braces respectively disposed along opposite sides of said frame elements and being pivotally secured thereto and cooperatively engageable with the respectively associated arms in the active positions thereof in which they are in engagement with said legs.