An elevator apparatus comprising: car speed detecting means (6, 31) for detecting the speed of a car; an output portion (11, 32) which outputs an actuation signal when the speed of the car detected by the car speed detecting means (6, 31) reaches a preset overspeed; braking means (5, 33) mounted on the car and having a braking member (19, 34) capable of moving into and away from contact with a car guide rail that guides the ascent/descent of the car, a guide portion (21, 36) capable of guiding the braking member (19, 34) into and away from contact with the car guide rail, and an actuator portion (20, 35) for displacing the braking member (19, 34) such that the braking member (19, 34) is guided by the guide portion (21, 36), for braking the car by pressing the braking member (19, 34) against the car guide rail upon input of the actuation signal; and transmitting means for transmitting the actuation signal from the output portion (11, 32) to the braking means (5, 33) characterized in that the actuator portion has a contact portion, that is lighter than the braking member (19, 34), and capable of moving into and away from contact with the car guide rail, and an actuating mechanism for displacing the contact portion into and away from contact with the car guide rail, wherein braking effected by contact of the contact portion with the car guide rail causes the braking member to be displaced toward the guide portion that moves together with the car, and wherein the actuating mechanism has an urging portion adapted to change its urging direction so as to maintain a contact/separated state of the contact portion with respect to the car guide rail. car speed detecting means (6, 31) for detecting the speed of a car; an output portion (11, 32) which outputs an actuation signal when the speed of the car detected by the car speed detecting means (6, 31) reaches a preset overspeed; braking means (5, 33) mounted on the car and having a braking member (19, 34) capable of moving into and away from contact with a car guide rail that guides the ascent/descent of the car, a guide portion (21, 36) capable of guiding the braking member (19, 34) into and away from contact with the car guide rail, and an actuator portion (20, 35) for displacing the braking member (19, 34) such that the braking member (19, 34) is guided by the guide portion (21, 36), for braking the car by pressing the braking member (19, 34) against the car guide rail upon input of the actuation signal; and transmitting means for transmitting the actuation signal from the output portion (11, 32) to the braking means (5, 33) characterized in that the actuator portion has a contact portion, that is lighter than the braking member (19, 34), and capable of moving into and away from contact with the car guide rail, and an actuating mechanism for displacing the contact portion into and away from contact with the car guide rail, wherein braking effected by contact of the contact portion with the car guide rail causes the braking member to be displaced toward the guide portion that moves together with the car, and characterized in that the actuator portion has a contact portion, that is lighter than the braking member (19, 34), and capable of moving into and away from contact with the car guide rail, and an actuating mechanism for displacing the contact portion into and away from contact with the car guide rail, wherein braking effected by contact of the contact portion with the car guide rail causes the braking member to be displaced toward the guide portion that moves together with the car, and wherein the actuating mechanism has an urging portion adapted to change its urging direction so as to maintain a contact/separated state of the contact portion with respect to the car guide rail.