Foldable ladder

Claim 1

A foldable ladder of the type having a plurality of rigid steps and being operable between an operating position in which said ladder is suspended from an elevated structure and at least the majority of said steps are supported below said structure, and spaced apart from each other in a substantially parallel arrangement, and, respectively, a folded position in which said steps are disposed in close proximity to each other, the improvement comprising support means operable to maintain said ladder rigidly in said operating position and, respectively, to permit said ladder to be folded into said folded position, and including a plurality of rigid links pivotally secured together and to said steps, wherein each rigid step defines an aperture, said apertures being substantially aligned with each other, a stacking rod operable to extend through said apertures to maintain said steps in substantially aligned relation to each other in said folded position, said rod including an enlarged portion near one end to restrain the passage of that end through an aperture, and a quick disconnect retaining ring removably insertable over the opposite end of the rod, said ring when inserted being operable to secure said rod within said apertures.