Patent ID: 7082853

Claim:
A pedal reaction force applying apparatus for applying a reaction force to a pedal member which is pivotably supported by a support shaft and which is depressible to be pivoted about an axis of said support shaft, said apparatus comprising: a reaction-force applying device for applying said reaction force to said pedal member and changing said reaction force; a reaction-force controlling device for controlling said reaction-force applying device such that said reaction force is changed on the basis of a depressing stroke of said pedal member, according to a predetermined pattern of chance of said reaction force, wherein said reaction-force applying device includes: a spring member which is connected, at one of opposite ends thereof, with a connected portion of said pedal member that is spaced away from said axis of said support shaft, and which is elastically deformed upon depression of said pedal member, for thereby applying said reaction force to said pedal member; and a reaction-force changing mechanism for changing said reaction force, by moving the other of said opposite ends of said spring member toward and away from said connected portion of said pedal member. wherein said reaction-force changing mechanism includes a cam member which is pivotable about an axis of a pivot shaft and which has an engaged portion whose distance from said axis of said pivot shaft is continuously changed as viewed in a circumferential direction of said cam member, and wherein said engaged portion of said cam member is held in engagement with said other of said opposite ends of said spring member, so that said other of said opposite ends of said spring member is movable toward and away from said connected portion of said pedal member, by said engaged portion as a result of the pivotable motion of said cam member.