Abstract: A collapsible ladder (10) is disclosed having rungs secured to telescopically collapsible stile sections and at least one stabiliser bar secured to the foot of the ladder, the (or each) stabiliser bar (12a, 12b) being displaceable between a storage position in which the bar lies, at least predominantly, between the two stiles and a deployed position in which the bar widens the footprint of the ladder to improve the lateral stability of the ladder. A rod (20) is connected to extend downwardly from the uppermost stile section of the ladder and a catch mechanism (30) is provided at the foot of the ladder to engage the lower end of the rod to prevent the ladder from being extended. The catch mechanism (30) is operable by the (or a) stabiliser bar to release the rod and permit the ladder to be extended only when the stabiliser bar is in the deployed position.

Abstract: A stabilizer accessory releasably securable to a ladder having two one piece stiles and at least three rungs extending between the stiles, characterized by an elongate housing to be secured in use to the lower end of the stiles of the ladder and two stabilizing arms retractably received within the housing and extendable laterally in opposite directions, when deployed, to contact the ground at points that are further spaced apart than the ends of the housing, wherein the stabilizing arms are spring biased in a direction to protrude from the housing and are retained within the housing, and a catch mechanism is provided on the housing to retain the stabilizer arms in the retracted position.

Abstract: A collapsible structure is described that can be erected to provide an elevated working platform having two ends and two sides. Two telescopically collapsible ladder frames (10, 12) are disposed above the level of the platform, one on each end of the platform. Each ladder frame (10, 12) is formed of two stiles (20, 22) having telescopically collapsible sections, rungs each extending between respective sections of the two stiles and latch mechanisms for locking the stile sections in the extended position of the ladder frame. Each of the ladder frames (10, 12) further incorporates a guardrail (30, 32) that lies parallel to the rungs (24) when the ladder frame is collapsed. The guardrail (30, 32) is mounted for rotation about a first stile and releasably secured to the second stile. After release from the second stile of the same ladder frame and rotation about the first stile each guardrail is connectable to the second stile of the other ladder frame to lie parallel to a side of the platform.

Abstract: An extendable ladder having a collapsed mode and an extended mode, characterized in that when the ladder is transformed from the collapsed mode to the extended mode, at least one ground stabilizer extends laterally from the ladder to widen the footprint of the ladder.

Abstract: A telescopic loft ladder has two stiles with sections that are telescopically collapsible within each other, rungs having lateral ends each connected to respective sections the stiles, retractable pins in the ends of the rungs for engaging holes in the stile sections to retain them in an extended position, and levers on the rungs that automatically operate when two rungs contact one another to disengage pins of the upper of the contacting rungs from the holes to permit collapse of the next higher rung. Each uppermost stile section is rotatable relative to the section connected to the uppermost rung of the ladder and has circumferentially and axially offset pin receiving holes. At least one resilient element biases the next to uppermost rung away from the uppermost rung to ensure that the locking pin of the uppermost rung engages a hole in the uppermost stile section as the ladder is lowered.

Abstract: An extendable ladder having a collapsed mode and an extended mode, characterised in that when the ladder is transformed from the collapsed mode to the extended mode, at least one ground stabiliser extends laterally from the ladder to widen the footprint of the ladder.

Abstract: A ladder for use as a fire escape has two stiles comprising telescopically collapsible tube sections, a plurality of rungs each secured to the upper end of two tube sections, each of the two sections being part of a respective one of the two stiles, and retractable spring-biased pins supported by the lateral ends of the rungs and engageable in holes in the walls of the tube sections to lock the tube sections to one another in the extended state of the ladder. The ladder is capable of being suspended from the uppermost tube sections of the stiles and the holes in the walls of the tube sections in which the sprung pins are engageable are dimensioned to allow free play between the pins and the holes in at least the axial direction of the tubes.

Abstract: A telescopic loft ladder has two stiles with sections that are telescopically collapsible within each other, rungs having lateral ends each connected to respective sections the stiles, retractable pins in the ends of the rungs for engaging holes in the stile sections retain them in an extended position, and levers on the rungs that automatically operate when two rungs contact one another to disengage pins of the upper of the contacting rungs from the holes to permit collapse of the next higher rung. Each uppermost stile section is rotatable relative to the section connected to the uppermost rung of the ladder and has circumferentially and axially offset pin receiving holes. At least one resilient element biases the next to uppermost rung away from the uppermost rung to ensure that the locking pin of the uppermost rung engages a hole in the uppermost stile section as the ladder is lowered.

Abstract: A collapsible structure is described that can be erected to provide an elevated working platform having two ends and two sides. Two telescopically collapsible ladder frames (10, 12) are disposed above the level of the platform, one on each end of the platform. Each ladder frame (10, 12) is formed of two stiles (20, 22) having telescopically collapsible sections, rungs each extending between respective sections of the two stiles and latch mechanisms for locking the stile sections in the extended position of the ladder frame. Each of the ladder frames (10, 12) further incorporates a guardrail (30, 32) that lies parallel to the rungs (24) when the ladder frame is collapsed. The guardrail (30, 32) is mounted for rotation about a first stile and releasably secured to the second stile. After release from the second stile of the same ladder frame and rotation about the first stile each guardrail is connectable to the second stile of the other ladder frame to lie parallel to a side of the platform.