Elevator car door interlock

An apparatus for an elevator car to lock and unlock an elevator car door, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) an interlock in communication with an elevator car door, the interlock comprising:
• (i) a locking member configured to selectively prevent the elevator car door from opening,
• (ii) a gate switch having an opened and closed position, and
• (iii) a plurality of interlock sensors operable to be independently triggered, whereby simultaneously triggering the plurality of interlock sensors causes the gate switch to be in the closed position;
• and
• (b) a control device in communication with the interlock, the control device in further communication with an elevator controller, wherein the gate switch being in the closed position causes the control device to signal to the elevator controller to allow movement of the elevator car.

A method of locking an elevator car door in preparation for movement of an elevator car through a hoistway using a locking member, a gate switch, a control device, and a plurality of sensors, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) detecting whether the elevator car door is closed with one of the plurality of sensors;
• (b) closing the gate switch if the one of the plurality of sensors detects that the elevator car door is closed, wherein the act of closing the gate switch comprises engaging the locking member to lock the elevator car door;
• (c) detecting whether the elevator car door is locked with another one of the plurality of sensors;
• and
• (d) communicating the closed state of the gate switch to the control device to prepare the elevator car for movement through the hoistway.