Patent ID: 7305904

Claim:
An accelerator pedal apparatus comprising: a support member; an accelerator pedal rotatably supported by the support member; an accelerator pedal position sensor for measuring an operational position of the accelerator pedal; and a resilient engaging member, which is opposed to the accelerator pedal and is secured to the support member, wherein: the resilient engaging member is engaged with the accelerator pedal when the accelerator pedal is pressed to a prespecified point; the resilient engaging member is deformed to allow further movement of the accelerator pedal and exerts resistive force against the accelerator pedal when the accelerator pedal is further pressed beyond the prespecified point; and the resistive force of the resilient engaging member exerted against the accelerator pedal is released when the accelerator pedal is even further pressed to deform the resilient engaging member by a predetermined amount.