Device for cleaning moving balustrade belt

An apparatus for cleaning the moving handrail supported by the sidewalls of an escalator and the like, said apparatus comprising:

• wiping means in contact with said moving handrail for cleaning said handrail;
• compartment means surrounding and spaced from said moving handrail and removably secured to said escalator sidewall for holding said wiping means in contact with said moving handrail, said compartment means having open ends for allowing said moving handrail to pass therethrough, and said compartment means comprised of:
• two encasing halves surrounding said moving handrail;
• spring hinge means for hinging said two encasing halves together and biasing both of said halves inward toward said handrail,
• rims along the edges of each encasing half for containing said wiping means within said compartment means,
• projections on the inside edges of each half opposite said hinge means for engaging with and removably securing said compartment means to said fastening means, and
• two handles, one on each encasing half, to facilitate the positioning of said compartment means around said handrail and to facilitate the removal of said compartment means from around said handrail;
• and
• fastening means attached to said escalator sidewall for receiving and securing said compartment means surrounding said handrail to said escalator sidewall, whereby said compartment means can be attached around and removed from around said handrail.