Retractable boat ladder having intermediate locking position

Abstract

A retractable boat ladder, having: a first support; a pair of second supports; a step frame connected to the first support and the pair of second supports such that the step frame rotates from a retracted position through an intermediate locking position to a fully extended position; and a locking mechanism on at least one of the second supports, the locking mechanism holding the second support is an intermediate locked position when the second support has been rotated from a retracted position to the intermediate locked position, and releasing the second support from the intermediate locked position when the second support has been rotated from the intermediate locked position to a fully extended position.

1 . A retractable boat ladder, comprising:
 a first support;   a pair of second supports;   a step frame connected to the first support and the pair of second supports such that the step frame rotates from a retracted position through an intermediate locking position to a fully extended position; and   a locking mechanism on at least one of the second supports, the locking mechanism holding the second support is an intermediate locked position when the second support has been rotated from a retracted position to the intermediate locked position, and releasing the second support from the intermediate locked position when the second support has been rotated from the intermediate locked position to a fully extended position.   
   
   
       2 . The retractable boat ladder of  claim 1 , wherein the step frame is connected to the pair of second supports by at least one biasing mechanism that urges the retractable boat ladder into the retracted position. 
   
   
       3 . The retractable boat ladder of  claim 2 , wherein the biasing mechanism is disposed between the step frame and at least one of the second supports, and wherein the biasing mechanism causes the step frame to rotate with respect to the pair of second supports. 
   
   
       4 . The retractable boat ladder of  claim 3 , wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a spring that is isolated from water when the biasing mechanism is submerged. 
   
   
       5 . The retractable boat ladder of  claim 1 , wherein the retractable boat ladder further comprises:
 a bracket at the end of each of the first and second members, and wherein the first and second supports rotate with respect to the brackets.   
   
   
       6 . The retractable boat ladder of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
 a rotatable lug dimensioned to mate with an end of the second support such that the rotatable lug can be rotated from a neutral position into a position to hold the second support in the locked intermediate position; and   a lug biasing mechanism for rotating the lug to the neutral position.   
   
   
       7 . The retractable boat ladder of  claim 6 , wherein the rotatable lug is dimensioned to return to the neutral position and release the end of the second support when the step frame has been rotated from the intermediate locking position to the fully extended position. 
   
   
       8 . The retractable boat ladder of  claim 6 , wherein the rotatable lug is dimensioned to rotate from the neutral position to a position to permit the step frame to be rotated from the fully extended position to the retracted position. 
   
   
       9 . The retractable boat ladder of  claim 5 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
 a rotatable lug connected to the bracket at the end of the second member, the rotatable lug being dimensioned to mate with an end of the second support such that the rotatable lug can be rotated from a neutral position into a position to hold the second support in the locked intermediate position; and   a lug biasing mechanism for rotating the lug to the neutral position.   
   
   
       10 . The retractable boat ladder of  claim 9 , wherein the lug biasing mechanism comprises:
 a magnet in the rotatable lug; and   a magnet in the bracket at the end of the second support, wherein the magnets in the rotatable lug and the bracket tend to cause the rotatable lug to rotate to the neutral position.