Patent ID: 7017443

Claim:
A pedal assembly ( 12 ) for use in a vehicle ( 10 ), comprising: a pedal housing ( 14 ); a pedal arm ( 18 ) pivotally engaging said pedal housing ( 14 ) and operable between an idle position ( 24 ) and a plurality of operable positions; a kickdown member ( 46 ) directly engaging a portion ( 48 ) of said pedal arm ( 18 ) when said pedal arm ( 18 ) is pivoted to a predetermined operable position ( 50 ) from said idle position ( 24 ) such that a force required to further pivot said pedal arm ( 18 ) after said pedal arm ( 18 ) reaches said predetermined operable position ( 50 ) is greater than a force required to pivot said pedal arm ( 18 ) from said idle position ( 24 ) to said predetermined operable position ( 50 ); and an electrical generator ( 30 ) supported by said pedal housing ( 14 ) for generating a control signal that varies in magnitude in proportion to the extent of movement of said pedal arm ( 18 ) relative to said pedal housing ( 14 ); said assembly characterized by an adjustment mechanism ( 52 ) for adjusting said kickdown member ( 46 ) relative to said pedal arm ( 18 ) to ensure that said portion ( 48 ) of said pedal arm ( 18 ) directly engages said kickdown member ( 46 ) when said pedal arm ( 18 ) is at said predetermined operable position ( 50 ).