Composite handrails with reduced density carcass

A handrail suitable for use with an escalator, a moving walkway and/or other transportation apparatus, the handrail comprising:

• a carcass;
• a cover bonded to the carcass;
• a stretch inhibitor within the carcass;
• and
• a sliding layer bonded to the carcass,
• wherein at least a portion of the carcass comprises a gas phase dispersed in a first thermoplastic material.

A handrail, comprising:

• a carcass;
• a stretch inhibitor within the carcass;
• and
• a sliding layer bonded to the carcass,
• wherein at least a portion of the carcass comprises a gas phase dispersed in a solid polymer matrix,
• wherein:
• the carcass comprises a first side carcass portion, a second side carcass portion spaced apart from the first side carcass portion, and a central carcass portion of generally uniform thickness extending between the first and second side carcass portions, the central carcass portion defining an upper interior surface, and the first and second side carcass portions defining first and second concave interior surfaces, respectively, adjoining the upper interior surface on either side thereof;
• the stretch inhibitor is within the central carcass portion;
• and
• the sliding layer is bonded at least to the upper interior surface and the first and second concave interior surfaces, and
• comprising a cover bonded to the carcass, the cover comprising a first side cover portion covering the first side carcass portion, a second side cover portion covering the second side carcass portion, and a central cover portion of generally uniform thickness extending between the first and second side cover portions adjacent to the central carcass portion, the central cover portion defining an upper exterior surface, the first and second side cover portions defining first and second convex exterior surfaces, respectively, adjoining the upper exterior surface on either side thereof, the first and second side cover portions further defining first and second lower interior surfaces, respectively, adjoined between the first and second concave interior surfaces and generally opposed first and second side interior surfaces, respectively, and wherein the cover is formed of a second thermoplastic material.