A vertical ladder has two side stiles and at least one front vertical rail. Two sets of half treads are supported by each stile and horizontal rung members connected between at least one rail and a respective half tread or stile. Each horizontal rung member only has a front straight bar portion that terminates orthogonally at the at least one rail (i.e. at a T-junction), thereby allowing a vertical grab rail portion for gripping (including for counterbalance) and an orthogonal side straight bar portion. The rung members and half treads are alternately vertically staggered. As such, a user may ascend the ladder by stepping sideways onto the inward facing half treads and shift the user's weight from side to side, thereby being able to climb the ladder even without holding on and, when holding on, the vertical grab rail portions may be used for counterbalance.

Embodiments of tree climbing sticks adapted to be secured to a tree and provide a tree climbing assist are provided. In one embodiment, for example, a tree climbing stick is provided including a retractable aider step. The retractable aider step is adapted to be extended from the tree climbing stick during use and at least partially retracted within the tree climbing stick for transport and storage. In another embodiment, a tree climbing stick is adapted to be stacked and nested with another tree climbing stick. In this embodiment, a clip of the tree climbing stick is adapted to engage a button of an adjacent tree climbing stick and standoffs of the tree climbing sticks are adapted to nest so that the tree climbing sticks can be stacked vertically without axially extending from each other.

A set of climbing sticks for use in climbing a tree includes a first climbing stick having a support bar, a top foot rung secured to the support bar, a bottom foot rung secured to the support bar, an upper brace secured to and extending from the support bar, a lower brace secured to and extending from the support bar, and a magnet attached to the support bar; and a second climbing stick having a support bar, a top foot rung secured to the support bar, a bottom foot rung secured to the support bar, an upper brace secured to and extending from the support bar, and a lower brace secured to and extending from the support bar; the second climbing stick secures to the first climbing stick via the first magnet.

A climbing stick system includes the first climbing stick and a second climbing stick. The first climbing stick includes a first step support having a cavity and a mouth leading to the cavity and first steps coupled to the first step support. The second climbing stick includes a second step support, second steps coupled to the second step support and a locking member having a head. One of the mouth and the locking member is rotatable between a locked position in which the head is locked within the cavity to retain the first climbing stick with respect to the second climbing stick and an unlocked position to facilitate separation of the first climbing stick and the second climbing stick.

A ladder includes a pair of generally curved side rails arranged in a spaced apart manner, a plurality of fixed rungs disposed between the side rails, a plurality of pairs of rung supports, and a plurality of hinged rungs. Each of the pairs of rung supports is horizontally aligned with each other and disposed on respective inner sides of the side rails. The rung supports are spaced apart from the fixed rungs along lengths of the side rails. Each rung support includes a flanged end portion having an aperture therein. Each hinged rung is associated with a respective pair of rung supports. Each hinged rung has a first end pivotally coupled to the flanged end portion of a first rung support in the respective pair of rung supports such that each hinged rung is pivotal between a secured position between the rung supports and a retracted position.

A ladder includes a pair of generally curved side rails arranged in a spaced apart manner, a plurality of fixed rungs disposed between the side rails, a plurality of pairs of rung supports, and a plurality of hinged rungs. Each of the pairs of rung supports is horizontally aligned with each other and disposed on respective inner sides of the side rails. The rung supports are spaced apart from the fixed rungs along lengths of the side rails. Each rung support includes a flanged end portion having an aperture therein. Each hinged rung is associated with a respective pair of rung supports. Each hinged rung has a first end pivotally coupled to the flanged end portion of a first rung support in the respective pair of rung supports such that each hinged rung is pivotal between a secured position between the rung supports and a retracted position.

An extension module is provided for attachment to a folding or rigid ladder to extend the effective working height of the ladder. A ladder that is designed for use with an extension module according to the invention defines the base module to which the extension module is attached. Cooperatively constructed interconnecting structures on the ladder and the extension module operate to secure the extension module to the ladder and to stabilize the combination of the ladder with the extension.

An extension module is provided for attachment to a folding or rigid ladder to extend the effective working height of the ladder. A ladder that is designed for use with an extension module according to the invention defines the base module to which the extension module is attached. Cooperatively constructed interconnecting structures on the ladder and the extension module operate to secure the extension module to the ladder and to stabilize the combination of the ladder with the extension.

A foldable staircase that can be easily transported and conveniently used rather than a ladder. The foldable staircase includes a lower staircase and an upper staircase. The upper staircase and the lower staircase are constructions that bridge vertical distances and provide platforms allowing the user to walk up or down the foldable staircase. The foldable staircase provides an alternative means to reach high areas that is easy and safe to ascend or descend as conventional stairways and staircases along with the transportability of a conventional ladder. The foldable staircase can be adjusted to a collapsed configuration or operative configuration. The collapsed configuration allows a user to store or easily transport the foldable staircase. The operative configuration allows the user to ascend or descend the foldable staircase.

A vertically orientated ladder apparatus allowing a climber to adopt an improved climbing stance wherein the climber's arms are poised economically in front of the climber within the climbing passage; the climber's legs are spread for the lateral stability of the climber so as to reduce the tendency of the climber falling sideways; and the climber is substantially upright such that the climber's center of gravity lies substantially between the opposing steps (11) so as to allow the climber to release the climber's grip on the hand rails (14) while remaining balanced and supported by the legs of the climber. Opposing steps (11) are level or staggered. Embodiments include three or four stiles (12, 15).