Step ladder pivot and lock mechanism

A ladder, comprising:

• a first ladder section and a second ladder section, each of the first ladder section and the second ladder section having first and second rails and at least one rung connecting the first and second rails;
• and
• a lockable pivot assembly connecting the first and second ladder sections and enabling selective rotation of the second ladder section relative to the first ladder section, the lockable pivot assembly including:
• an elongated housing connected to the first ladder section;
• a first plate connected to the first rail of the second ladder section and a second plate connected to the second rail of the second ladder section, the first plate pivotably coupled to a first end of the elongated housing and the second plate pivotably coupled to a second end of the elongated housing, the first plate and the second plate each defining a plurality of openings for locking the second ladder section relative to the first ladder section in a plurality of different positions, and wherein the first plate defines a base plate with a central hole for a pivot pin and an elongated stem for engaging a rail of the second ladder section, wherein a center of the elongated housing is generally aligned with the central hole of the base plate;
• and
• a lock assembly positioned at least in part within the elongated housing and comprising:
• a first locking member and a second locking member for engaging and disengaging the plurality of openings of the first plate and the second plate, respectively;
• a first actuator mechanically coupled to the first looking member and a second actuator mechanically coupled to the second locking member, the first actuator having a first handle and the second actuator having a second handle, the first handle and the second handle extending downwardly below the elongated housing;
• a biasing element biasing the first locking member and the first actuator away from the second locking member and the second actuator;
• wherein an unlocked state of the lockable pivot assembly is provided when the first and second actuators are moved towards each other and against the bias so that the first and second locking members disengage the plurality of openings of the first plate and the second plate to allow rotation of the second ladder section relative to the first ladder section, and
• a locked state of the lockable pivot assembly is provided when the first and second locking members engage at least one of the plurality of openings of the first plate and the second plate.