Method of continuously joining a handrail for an escalator or moving walkway

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Two opposite ends of a handrail stock member are joined to form a handrail having a closed-loop configuration for an escalator or the like. A slot is cut into each end parallel to a longitudinal, reinforcement layer of the handrail stock member. A joint reinforcement insert including longitudinally-oriented high-strength high-stiffness fibers is inserted into the two slots and the two ends are butted together. A thermoplastic matrix material of the handrail stock member in the joint area is heated to a softening or melting temperature and is press-molded to penetrate into the reinforcement insert and bond the insert to portions of the reinforcement layer overlapped by the insert. …