Patent attributes
An aerial ladder assembly for a fire apparatus includes a base rail extending along a longitudinal direction, a hand rail elevated from the base rail and extending along the longitudinal direction, a first lacing member and a second lacing member coupling the hand rail to the base rail, the first lacing member and the second lacing member each including an end that engages the base rail at an interface, and a gusset positioned to reinforce the interface. The first lacing member and the second lacing member each define a slot that receives the gusset, and the gusset extends through the first lacing member and the second lacing member to the base rail.