Elevator safety device and method of activating an elevator safety device

An elevator car or elevator counterweight comprising:

• at least one elevator safety device comprising:
• a housing attachable to an elevator car or to an elevator counterweight of an elevator system, the housing comprising a passage for allowing a guide member to pass through;
• a brake shoe attached to the housing and located on a first side of the guide member passing through the passage;
• a support element arranged on a second of side of the guide member passing through the passage, the support element extending at an angle with respect to the guide member, thereby defining a tapered region between the guide member and the support element;
• and
• a movable braking element, which is rotatable around a rotation axis of the movable braking element;
• wherein the movable braking element is, at least in an activated condition of the at least one elevator safety device, arranged within said tapered region defined by the support element and the guide member, the movable braking element being capable of rotatingly moving along the support element into a wedged condition between the support element and the guide member;
• wherein the movable braking element has, in a plane that is oriented perpendicularly to the rotation axis, a non-circular cross-section, which is defined by a closed curve having a constant width.