Abstract: A handrail for transportation apparatus, such as escalators and moving walks, which includes an elongated, extruded elastomeric member having first and second wear strips fixed to inner surfaces of the elastomeric member for contacting a handrail guide. Each wear strip has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional configuration, including a bight and spaced leg portions, and , in addition to providing low friction wear surfaces, the configuration aids the handrail in resisting derailment from a handrail guide. At least one leg portion of each wear strip has a plurality of spaced slots, or thin webs, which extend inwardly from the end of the leg to facilitate flexing of the elastomeric body member while traversing curved portions of a handrail guide. In another embodiment, a plurality of relatively short, discrete wear strips are spaced apart to collectively define an elongated wear strip, with the spacings being selected to function as flexiblity imparting slots.

Abstract: A method of splicing a length of extruded handrail having a C-shaped cross-sectional configuration, a substantially flat inner drive surface, and a plurality of spaced, longitudinally extending inextensible members embedded in the body of the handrail. The ends of the handrail are squared, aligned, and butted. Longitudinally extending grooves are cut into the flat drive surface, through and on both sides of the butt joint, in the spaces between the embedded inextensible members. Predetermined lengths of inextensible members and elastomeric material are placed in the grooves, and bonded to the surfaces which define the grooves. In another embodiment, the grooves are extruded into the flat drive surface at the same time the handrail is extruded. In either embodiment, the ends of the handrail may be bonded together prior to, or simultaneously with, the bonding of the inextensible members and elastomeric material with the groove surfaces.