Stepladder with latch stud and method

A stepladder comprising:

• a front section having a first front leg and a second front leg;
• a step attached to the first front leg and the second front leg;
• a latch having first and second latch ends engaged with the step, and the latch having a latch bar connecting between the first and second latch ends;
• and
• a rear section having a cross bar attaching between a first rear leg and a second rear leg, the rear section pivotably attached to the front section, the rear section having a first stud which extends from the first rear leg toward the second rear leg and separate and apart and not in contact with the second rear leg and not in contact with the cross bar, the latch configured to be engaged with and latched to the first stud to define an engaged position where the first front leg and the first rear leg are in an open position and form an inverted v shape and are prevented from folding together, and the latch when pulled up from the engaged position, disengages from the first stud and allows the front section and rear section to fold together into a dosed position where the first rear leg and the first front leg are in parallel, wherein the rear section has a second stud which extends from the second rear leg toward the first rear leg and is separate and apart and not in contact with the first rear leg and the first stud and not in contact with the cross bar, the step including a first side, a second side, a front and a rear, the step further includes a first step link with first and second ends, the first end of the first step link being attached to the first rear leg and the second end of the first step link being attached to the first side of the step;
• and a second step link with first and second ends, the first end of the second step link being attached to the second rear leg and the second end of the second step link being attached to the second side of the step, the step links configured to cause the rear legs to move to a position parallel to the front legs when the stepladder is folded, wherein the first and second studs attach the first ends of the first and second step links to the first and second rear legs at a position in between the first and second rear legs, and the first and second studs have engagement points positioned in between the first ends of the first and second step links, wherein the first and second latch ends respectively engage with and receive the engagement points when the latch is pivoted into the engaged position.