Airbag apparatus attachment mechanism

An airbag apparatus attachment mechanism configured to attach an airbag apparatus disposed rearward of a metal core of a steering wheel of a vehicle to the metal core, the airbag apparatus attachment mechanism comprising:

• a holder that is inserted into the metal core and fastened to the metal core by a fastening member;
• a supporting member that is attached to the airbag apparatus, the supporting member extending further forward than the airbag apparatus and being inserted into the holder;
• an urging member that is disposed between the airbag apparatus and the holder and urges the airbag apparatus rearward;
• and
• a functional member that is attached to a first part of the supporting member that is inserted in the holder, the functional member being restricted from moving relative to the supporting member in a front-rear direction,
• wherein
• the functional member includes:
• a base that surrounds the first part of the supporting member in the front-rear direction;
• a spring portion that is thinner than a gap between the supporting member and the holder, the spring portion being disposed in the gap;
• and
• an attachment portion that is disposed in the gap and coupled to the base, the attachment portion extending in the front-rear direction while being in contact with the supporting member,
• the spring portion includes:
• an elastic main body that extends in the front-rear direction while being separated outward in a radial direction of the supporting member from a second part of the supporting member that is not surrounded by the base;
• and
• a coupling portion that couples the elastic main body to the base,
• the attachment portion extends in the front-rear direction while being separated from the holder,
• the functional member is configured such that the spring portion is elastically deformed in the radial direction of the supporting member due to vibration of the airbag apparatus, thereby suppressing the vibration,
• the supporting member includes:
• two general portions at positions separated from each other in the front-rear direction, the general portions being columnar;
• a locking portion between the general portions, the locking portion being columnar and having a diameter smaller than those of the general portions;
• and
• two step portions formed at boundaries between the locking portion and the respective general portions,
• the base surrounds a first part of the locking portion in the front-rear direction,
• the attachment portion is in contact with a second part of the locking portion that is not surrounded by the base, and
• the elastic main body is separated outward in the radial direction from the second part of the locking portion that is not surrounded by the base.