Security ladder for a pool

A ladder assembly for a provided above-ground pool, comprising:

• a movable ladder portion including a movable pair of rails;
• a plurality of steps extending between the movable pair of rails;
• a connection mechanism coupled to the movable ladder portion, the connection mechanism including:
• a housing and a U-shaped bracket, the housing being located inside of the U-shaped bracket and defining a through hole;
• and
• a pin extending through the U-shaped bracket and the through hole;
• wherein:
• the connection mechanism is configured:
• to allow the movable ladder portion to rotate relative to the provided above-ground pool between a first position and a second position, the first position permitting access to the provided above-ground pool using the movable ladder portion and the second position restricting access to the provided above-ground pool using the movable ladder portion;
• wherein the pin permits rotational movement of the housing relative to the U-shaped bracket about the first axis as the movable ladder portion is rotated between the first position and the second position;
• a dampening member coupled to the connection mechanism for controlling the amount of force necessary to move the movable ladder portion between the first position and the second position, the dampening member configured to provide resistance to rotation of the movable ladder portion;
• wherein the dampening member includes an annular damper and is coupled to one the pin such that the pin extends through the annular damper or to provide friction against the housing to increase the force necessary to rotate the movable ladder portion about the first axis;
• and
• wherein the pin includes ridges to facilitate coupling the pin to the annular damper such that the annular damper rotates with the pin.

A ladder assembly for a provided above-ground pool, comprising:

• a movable ladder portion including a movable pair of rails;
• a plurality of steps extending between the movable pair of rails;
• a connection mechanism coupled to the movable ladder portion, the connection mechanism including:
• a housing and a U-shaped bracket, the housing being located inside of the U-shaped bracket and defining a through hole;
• and
• a pin extending through the U-shaped bracket and the through hole;
• wherein the connection mechanism is configured:
• to allow the movable ladder portion to rotate relative to the provided above-ground pool between a first position and a second position, the first position permitting access to the provided above-ground pool using the movable ladder portion and the second position restricting access to the provided above-ground pool using the movable ladder portion;
• wherein the pin permits rotational movement of the housing relative to the U-shaped bracket about the first axis as the movable ladder portion is rotated between the first position and the second position;
• a dampening member coupled to the connection mechanism for controlling the amount of force necessary to move the movable ladder portion between the first position and the second position, wherein the dampening member is configured to provide resistance to rotation of the movable ladder portion;
• wherein the connection mechanism further includes either a plurality of projections in a circumferential array or a plurality of depressions in a circumferential array and the dampening member includes the other of the plurality of projections and the plurality of depressions, such that during rotation of the movable ladder portion relative to the provided above-ground pool, the plurality of projections are biased towards and sequentially seat within different depressions of the plurality of depressions, thereby increasing the amount of force necessary to rotate the housing relative to the U-shaped bracket.