surface that is depressed for urging the adjustable hinge mechanism 16 from the engaged position to the disengaged position the side section 114 extends towards the first hinge section 52 and thereby reduces the potential for a person 39 s fingers to become pinched between the second portion 102 and the first hinge section 52 using the three pairs of second positioning apertures 62 enables the first hinge plate 52 to be locked at three different angular positions with respect to the second hinge plate 54 in a first orientation of the adjustable hinge mechanism 16 the first ladder portion 12 is positioned adjacent to the second ladder portion 14 for storage or transportation as most clearly illustrated in fig1 in a second orientation of the adjustable hinge mechanism 16 the first ladder portion 12 is oriented at an angle with respect to the second ladder portion 14 for use as a step ladder as most clearly illustrated in fig1 in a third orientation of the adjustable hinge mechanism 16 the first ladder portion 12 is parallel to and aligned with the second ladder portion 14 for use as an extension ladder as most clearly illustrated in fig1 a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that varying the number of second positioning apertures 62 allows the number of angular orientations to be varied two of the static hinge mechanisms 140 are preferably attached to one of the second sections 32 as illustrated in fig1 another second section 32 is then aligned with the static hinge mechanism.