Modular ladder with a tambour barrier

A ladder for entering or exiting an above-ground swimming pool, the ladder comprising:

• first and second side rail structures each having an upper end;
• a platform supported by the first and second side rail structures, the platform having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and an outer perimeter defining a posterior edge, an anterior edge, and side edges, the platform having first and second openings passing through the upper surface to the lower surface;
• and
• first and second handrails each having a posterior member with at least one anterior locking lug extending from the posterior member;
• wherein:
• the upper end of the first and second side rail structures each include recesses oriented along a first axis and a first channel oriented along a second axis different from the first axis, the second axis being generally parallel with the upper surface of the platform;
• the anterior locking lugs of the first and second handrails interlock with the upper end of the first and second side rail structures, respectively, in the recesses;
• the first handrail interlocks with the first side rail structure by sliding the first handrail relative to the first side rail structure along the second axis;
• the second handrail interlocks with the second side rail structure by sliding the second handrail relative to the second side rail structure along the second axis;
• and wherein
• the first and second handrails form an interference fit with the first and second side rail structures, respectively.

A modular ladder for entering and exiting a swimming pool, the modular ladder comprising:

• a first ladder and a second ladder, each ladder having two siderail structures, each with apertures therein, and a plurality of steps secured to the siderail structures in the apertures, each of the ladders having an anterior side from which the steps are accessible, and a posterior side opposite the anterior side;
• a platform configured to secure to the ladders to provide a platform surface at a top of the ladders;
• handrails securable to at least one of the ladders or the platform or to both the ladders and the platform;
• and
• a mounting assembly configured to secure to at least one of the handrails or to the platform;
• wherein:
• the modular ladder is operable in least three different configurations;
• a first configuration is an A-frame configuration in which the first ladder is positioned with the posterior side near an outside wall of the swimming pool, and the second ladder is positioned inside of the swimming pool with the ladder extending into water in the swimming pool, the handrails are secured to the first ladder and to the second ladder, the handrails secured to the first ladder are also secured to the handrails secured to the second ladder, the platform is secured to at least one of the first ladder or the second ladder, and in the A-frame configuration the mounting assembly is unused;
• a second configuration is a ladder-in configuration in which the first ladder is positioned inside of the swimming pool with the ladder extending into the water in the swimming pool, the handrails are secured to the first ladder, the mounting assembly is secured to the handrails, and the mounting assembly includes a mounting foot that rests on a deck at or near a level of the platform, in the ladder-in configuration the second ladder is unused;
• and wherein
• a third configuration is a ladder-out configuration in which the first ladder is positioned outside of the swimming pool with the posterior side near an outside wall of the swimming pool, the handrails are secured to the first ladder, the platform is secured to the first ladder, and in the ladder-out configuration the second ladder is unused.

A ladder assembly configurable from an unassembled condition to an assembled condition, the ladder assembly comprising:

• substantially identical first and second side rail structures each having an upper end and first and second, oppositely facing surfaces, wherein the first surface of the first side rail structure and the second surface of the second side rail structure face each other in the assembled condition of the ladder;
• at least one stair member having first and second opposite ends configured to attach to the first surface of the first side rail structure and the second surface of the second side rail structure, respectively, in the assembled condition of the ladder assembly;
• a platform having opposite upper and lower surfaces surrounded by an outer perimeter having first and second opposite side edges, the platform having a first pair of openings located adjacent the first and second side edges, respectively, the first pair of openings extending completely through the platform from the lower to the upper surface thereof;
• first and second handrails each having a posterior member with at least one anterior locking lug extending from the posterior member;
• wherein during assembly of the ladder, the upper end of each of the first and second side rail structures is configured to extend into and locate within a respective one of the platform first pair of openings with the first and second side rail structures extending downwardly from the platform bottom surface;
• and
• wherein during assembly of the ladder, the anterior locking lug of each of the first and second handrails is configured to extend into and locate within a respective one of the platform first pair of openings with the first and second handrails extending upwardly from the platform upper surface;
• and
• wherein the upper end of each of the first and second side rails and a respective the anterior locking lug of each of the first and second handrailing are cooperatively configured to interlock with each other in a respective one of the platform first pair of openings and thereby locking the platform in place therebetween with the ladder in the assembled condition.