Patent Description:
It is well known in the art to arrange an airbag as a part of a harness of a backpack where the airbag in the event of an accident is inflated and deployed to form a protection of the head and/or the face. To provide an efficient system it is of importance that the airbag is designed so that it can be inflated and reach its fully deployed condition very quick. It is also of importance that the inflation is not unduly hindered by the wearers clothing or by the harness design, and not at least that the deployed airbag covers the relevant parts of the body.

Document <CIT> discloses the preamble of claim <NUM>.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above-described drawbacks, and to provide an airbag to be part of a wearable safety system to allow an effective facial protection, and also to provide a safety system comprising a harness that supports such airbag.

The airbag should be designed so that it easily conforms to the wearers body during inflation and its deployed condition.

The airbag should provide a protection to at least a portion of the facial area of the wearer.

The wearable system should be applicable, no matter if it comes to commuting, construction work, outdoor activities or even extreme sports.

It is also preferred that the airbag, as seen in an inflated condition does not unduly interfere with a helmet.

These and other objects that will be apparent from the following summary and description are achieved by a wearable safety system according to the appended claims.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an airbag configured to be part of a wearable safety system to allow the provision of a facial protection, the airbag comprising, as seen in a flat, noninflated condition:.

Accordingly, an airbag is provided that is configured to be part of a wearable safety system to allow a facial protection. To obtain a good coverage of both the face and the thorax area, the airbag needs to be tightly closed around the users face and body when inflated and deployed. The C-shaped neck portion, defining a mouth merging with a central opening creates a robust closing function around the user's neck, where the mouth is configured to be arranged adjacent the users' cheek. As the thus formed, substantially round neck portion is inflated, it will contribute to the guiding of the other portions of the airbag, such as the first and second face portions, into a position across the face of the user. This guidance is facilitated not only by the C-shaped body as such, but also by the first and the second first-type attachment portions of the first and second elongated face portions. These attachment portions are attached to a respective inner peripheral edge portion of the central opening of the neck portion in an area adjacent, and on opposite sides of the mouth of the neck portion. Thus, the first and second elongated face portions merge and extend from a rear end of the C-shaped neck portion in an area opposite the mouth to a front end of the C-shaped neck portion adjacent its mouth. Thereby, the airbag will, in an inflated and deployed condition form one portion that primarily extends around the user's neck and one portion that primarily extends above the neck portion and from the user's rear neck towards the user's facial area. Thus, not only does such inflated and deployed airbag protect the user's facial area, but it also encircles and protects the neck.

The respective first attachment portions do preferably have an elongated shape that allows an elongated connection to the inner peripheral connection portion of the central opening. It is advantageous if each attachment portion has a length that allows a connection along at least <NUM>-<NUM> % of the full length of the inner peripheral connection portion of the central opening.

The first and the second elongated face portions may extend from the C-shaped neck portion in an area along an outer peripheral edge portion of the C-shaped body, or from the inner peripheral edge portion of the central opening of the C-shaped body. No matter position, it is preferred that the first and the second elongated face portions extend symmetrically from the C-shaped neck portion in a position opposite the mouth.

In the event the first and the second elongated face portions extend from the C-shaped neck portion in an area along an outer peripheral edge portion of the C-shaped body, the two elongated face portions will fold over substantially <NUM> degrees. This since their attachment portions are attached to a respective inner peripheral edge portion of the central opening in an area adjacent a respective edge portion of the mouth.

The airbag may further comprise a first and a second elongated chest portion extending from the C-shaped neck portion in an area adjacent the mouth, and on opposite sides of the mouth. The chest portions are configured to provide a protection to the thorax area of the user in the event of the airbag being inflated and deployed.

A second attachment portion of one of the two opposing long sides of the first elongated face portion may be attached to the first chest portion, and a second attachment portion of one of the two opposing long sides of the second elongated face portion may be attached to the second chest portion. The attachment may be made by e.g., sewing, welding or adhesive bonding. Other connections means may be used, such as mechanical connecting means in the form of buttons or rivets. This kind of connection between the two face portions and the two chest portions have shown to contribute to an improved conformation to the user's body and hence to a better protection during inflation and deployment. The first attachment portion of each face portion may be arranged closer to the neck portion than the second attachment portion.

The first and/or the second attachment portions of the first and second elongated face portions may be provided as tabs projecting away from an outer peripheral edge of the airbag. By arranging the tabs to project away from the peripheral edge instead of towards the interior of the airbag, there is no undue flow-restriction during inflation. Also, the impact force on the intended fixation area between the attachment portion and it's respective mating attachment area on the inner peripheral connection portion of the central opening of the neck portion and on the connection portion on the chest portion will be lower.

The first and the second elongated face portions may extend from the C-shaped neck portion at a common location or at different locations along the outer peripheral edge portion of the airbag.

The airbag may further comprise a first and a second shoulder portion, and each shoulder portion may comprise at least one, and preferably at least two elongated connection portions in which a first wall and a second wall of the airbag are connected. The provision of elongated connection portions has shown to be very efficient to facilitate the conformation of the shoulder portions to the wearers body. The elongated portions have an extension from the rear side towards the front side of the wearers body. Especially, the elongated shape has shown to provide a surprisingly better conformation capability than a circular shape.

The airbag may further comprise a gas inlet portion configured to be connected to an inflator, said gas inlet portion being arranged in a position between the first and second elongated face portions; in a position between an elongated face portion and a shoulder portion; or in an inner peripheral edge portion of the central opening of the C-shaped neck portion.

The airbag may be woven in one piece to define a unitary inflatable cavity. Alternatively, the airbag may be formed by two panels being joined by sewing, welding or adhesive bonding to define a unitary inflatable cavity.

The first and the second elongated face portions may be formed separately from the C-shaped neck portion and be joined to the C-shaped neck portion to thereby define a unitary inflatable cavity.

The airbag may be woven in one piece to define a unitary inflatable cavity, and the first and the second elongated face portions may be detached from a first position of the one-piece woven airbag and then re-attached to the airbag in a different position. This allows a better loom layout and a greater design freedom when weaving the airbag in one piece. The elongated face portions may by way of example be woven by extending from an outer peripheral edge of the C-shaped neck portion. After weaving, the elongated face portions may be detached and then re-attached to the inner peripheral edge portion of the central opening of the C-shaped neck portion.

The first and the second elongated face portions may be detached from an outer peripheral edge portion of the C-shaped neck portion and re-attached to an inner peripheral edge portion of the central opening.

The airbag may comprise one or more tethers. The tethers may be integrated into the airbag during weaving the airbag in one piece. This is known in the field as woven-in-tethers, WIT. The tethers may also be provided as straps, springs or seams that are arranged when manufacturing the airbag. The tethers, no matter type, may be used to control and/or facilitate the deployment of the airbag as it is inflated.

One of two opposing wall portions in an interface between the C-shaped neck portion and the first and second elongated face portions may be provided with a biasing member configured to facilitate a separation of the two opposing wall portions during an inflation of the airbag. The biasing means may be a tether or a seam. The biasing means may even be a combination of a tether and a seam. The seam may form a fold. By separating the two wall portions, a faster and more uniform inflation may be provided for.

According to another aspect, the invention refers to a wearable safety system comprising a harness to be worn on the torso of a wearer, said harness supporting an airbag according to any of claims <NUM>-<NUM>, and wherein the C-shaped neck portion, the first and second elongated face portions and the first and second shoulder portions of the airbag are received in an upper portion of a back panel of the harness, and wherein the first and second chest portions are received in a respective shoulder strap of the harness.

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the appended schematic drawings, which show examples of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention.

The present invention may however be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and to fully convey the scope of the invention to the skilled addressee.

Starting with <FIG>, one schematic illustration of one embodiment of the airbag <NUM> is disclosed in its flat condition. The airbag <NUM> is configured to be folded and/or rolled into a compact body before being arranged in a harness.

The airbag <NUM> is formed as one unitary inflatable cavity <NUM>. The cavity <NUM> is defined by a first and a second wall <NUM>, <NUM> which are arranged flat, one on top of the other. Thus, only one of the two walls <NUM>, <NUM> is shown.

The airbag <NUM> may be woven in one piece to define the unitary inflatable cavity <NUM>. This is known in the art as one-piece-weaving, OPW. Alternatively, the airbag <NUM> may be formed by two panels that are joined by sewing, welding or adhesive bonding to define the unitary inflatable cavity <NUM>. The first and second walls <NUM>, <NUM> are substantially identical.

The airbag <NUM> will, in order of facilitating the explanation and understanding of the invention, be divided into different virtual "portions" - a C-shaped neck portion <NUM>, a first and a second elongated face portion <NUM>, two shoulder portions <NUM>, and two chest portions <NUM>. These portions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are all virtual portions and part of the unitary inflatable cavity <NUM>. The two elongated face portions <NUM>, the two shoulder portions <NUM> and the two chest portions <NUM> radiate out from the central C-shaped neck portion <NUM>.

The airbag <NUM> comprises an outer peripheral edge portion <NUM>. The edge portion <NUM> is continuous. Depending on how the airbag <NUM> is formed, the edge portion <NUM> may have different properties. In the event of a woven airbag, the edge portion <NUM> may be a woven portion which has a locally increased thickness or a locally higher strength. The edge portion may also be seen as a fold. In the event of a sewn or welded airbag, the edge portion <NUM> may be a fold, a seem or a weld. The edge portion may have a uniform width. Alternatively, it may have a non-uniform width. The edge portion may be provided with locally formed tabs that may be used when connecting the airbag to a harness.

The C-shaped neck portion <NUM> is configured to partially encircle the neck of the user as seen in a condition when the airbag <NUM> is inflated. The C-shaped neck portion <NUM> forms a mouth <NUM> that merges with a central opening <NUM>. The central opening <NUM> is configured to receive the neck of a user. The peripheral edge portion <NUM> is continuous, whereby it also extends along two opposing edges <NUM> along the mouth <NUM> and along an inner peripheral edge <NUM> of the central opening <NUM>. The central opening <NUM> is preferably substantially circular or oval.

The airbag <NUM> is preferably substantially mirror symmetric about a longitudinal centreline L that extends along the two opposing edges <NUM> of the mouth <NUM>. Hence, unless nothing specific is said, only one side of the airbag <NUM> is discussed in detail below.

The first and the second elongated face portions <NUM> extend from the C-shaped neck portion <NUM> in an area opposite the mouth <NUM>. The elongated face portions <NUM> are disclosed as extending from the C-shaped neck portion <NUM> at a common location. The skilled person realises that the two elongated face portions <NUM> with remained function may extend from different locations along the peripheral edge portion <NUM>.

Each elongated face portion <NUM> is disclosed as having a first section <NUM> arranged closest to the C-shaped neck portion <NUM> and a second section <NUM> arranged at its free end. The width W2 of the second section <NUM> is disclosed as exceeding the width W1 of the first section <NUM>. The second sections <NUM> are configured to extend across the users' face in the event the airbag <NUM> should be inflated.

The second sections <NUM> are each provided with elongated connection portions <NUM> where the two walls <NUM>, <NUM> of the airbag <NUM> are connected. The connection portions <NUM> contribute to the shaping of the face portions <NUM> as seen in the inflated condition. This will be better described below.

The two shoulder portions <NUM> are arranged in a position between the two face portions <NUM> and the two chest portions <NUM>. Each shoulder portion <NUM> is disclosed as comprising two elongated connection portions <NUM> in which the two walls <NUM>, <NUM> of the airbag <NUM> are connected. The provision of elongated connection portions <NUM> have shown to be very efficient to facilitate the conformation of the shoulder portions <NUM> to the user's body. The elongated connection portions <NUM> have an extension from the rear side towards the front side of the user's body. Especially, the elongated shape has shown to provide a surprisingly better conformation capability than a circular shape.

The two elongated chest portions <NUM> extend from the C-shaped neck portion <NUM> in an area adjacent the mouth <NUM>, and on opposite sides of the mouth <NUM>. Thus, the two chest portions <NUM> extend from the C-shaped neck portion <NUM> in an area opposite the two elongated face portions <NUM>. The chest portions <NUM> are configured to provide a protection to the thorax area of the user in the event of the airbag <NUM> should be inflated and deployed.

Each chest portion <NUM> is disclosed as having an elongated connection portion <NUM> in which the two walls <NUM>, <NUM> of the airbag <NUM> are connected. The connection portions <NUM> are configured to facilitate the conformation of the chest portions to the user's body.

Each connection portion <NUM> is disclosed as being provided with a throughgoing opening <NUM>. The opening <NUM> is configured to allow the airbag <NUM> to be removably connected a harness. This may be made by a button or a T-shaped member that is configured to be received in the opening. The skilled person realises that also other types of connectors may be used. The opening may even be omitted.

The airbag <NUM> further comprises a gas inlet portion <NUM>. The gas inlet portion <NUM> is configured to be connected to a non-disclosed inflator in a manner that as such is well known in the art and not further described.

The gas inlet portion <NUM> is illustrated as being arranged in a position between one of the elongated face portions <NUM> and a shoulder portion <NUM>. The skilled person realises that other positions are equally possible. The gas inlet portion <NUM> may by way of example be arranged in a position between the two elongated face portions <NUM> or in a position along the inner periphery <NUM> of the central opening <NUM> of the C-shaped neck portion <NUM>. The skilled person realises that the airbag <NUM> may comprise more than one gas inlet portion. No matter position, it is preferred that the position is chosen so that the airbag <NUM> is substantially symmetrically inflated and deployed in the event of an accident.

Each elongated face portion <NUM> has two opposing long sides. One of the two opposing long sides of each face portion <NUM> comprises a first attachment portion <NUM>. The first attachment portion <NUM> is provided as an elongated tab <NUM>. The tab <NUM> projects away from the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the airbag <NUM>. By arranging the tabs <NUM> to project away from the peripheral edge <NUM> instead of towards the interior of the airbag <NUM>, there is no undue flow-restriction during inflation.

The first attachment portions <NUM> are configured to be attached to a respective inner peripheral connection portion <NUM> of the central opening <NUM> in an area adjacent the opposing edges <NUM> of the mouth <NUM>. The first and the second connection portions <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged on opposite sides of the mouth <NUM>. The attachment may be made by sewing, welding or adhesive bonding. The attachment may alternatively be made by any mechanical connecting means, such as a button or a rivet.

The respective first attachment portions <NUM> do preferably have an elongated shape that allows an elongated connection to a respective inner peripheral connection portion <NUM> of the central opening <NUM>. It is advantageous if each first attachment portion <NUM> has a length that allows a connection along at least <NUM>-<NUM> % of the full length of the inner peripheral connection portion <NUM> of the central opening <NUM>.

Further, one of the two opposing long sides of each face portion <NUM> comprises an optional second attachment portion <NUM>. The first and second attachment portions <NUM>, <NUM> are preferably arranged along the same long side. The first attachment portion <NUM> is arranged closer to the neck portion <NUM> than the second attachment portion <NUM>. The second attachment portions are provided as tabs <NUM>. The tabs <NUM> project away from the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the airbag <NUM>. Thereby there is no undue flow-restriction during inflation.

The second attachment portions <NUM> are configured to be attached to the first and the second chest portions <NUM>, respectively. The second attachment portions <NUM> are configured to be attached to the respective chest portions <NUM> in a connection portion <NUM> where the two walls <NUM>, <NUM> making up the airbag <NUM> are connected. The attachment may be made by sewing, welding or adhesive bonding. The attachment may alternatively be made by any mechanical connecting means, such as a button or a rivet.

To allow the first and the second attachment portions <NUM>, <NUM> to be attached to the respective connection portions <NUM>, <NUM>, it is required that the two elongated face portions <NUM> are folded over in a direction towards the respective chest portions. This is schematically disclosed by the arrows in <FIG>. In the event the first and the second elongated face portions <NUM> extend from the C-shaped neck portion <NUM> in an area along an outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the airbag <NUM> as is disclosed in <FIG>, the two elongated face portions <NUM> will fold over substantially <NUM> degrees. The folding will be made in the area marked as A in <FIG>.

It is to be stressed that the first and the second attachment portions <NUM>, <NUM> are attached to the respective connection portions <NUM>, <NUM> along the inner peripheral connection portion <NUM> of the central opening <NUM> and to the chest portions <NUM> before the airbag <NUM> is folded and/or rolled into a suitable format that allows the airbag <NUM> to be received in the harness of a wearable item.

The airbag <NUM> may comprise one or more tethers <NUM>. The tethers <NUM> may be integrated with the airbag <NUM> during weaving the airbag <NUM> in one piece. This is known in the field as woven-in-tethers, WIT. The tethers <NUM> may also be provided as straps, springs or seams that are arranged when manufacturing the airbag <NUM>. The tethers <NUM>, no matter type, may be used to control and/or facilitate the deployment of the airbag <NUM> as it is inflated. One such tether <NUM> is disclosed, highly schematically in the respective shoulder portions <NUM>. The skilled person realises that the number of tethers and their positions may vary within the scope of the invention.

One of two opposing wall portions <NUM>, <NUM> in an interface between the C-shaped neck portion <NUM> and the first and second elongated face portions <NUM> may be provided with a biasing member <NUM> configured to facilitate a local separation of the two opposing walls <NUM>, <NUM> during inflation of the airbag <NUM>. The biasing means <NUM> may be a tether or a seam. The biasing means may even be a combination of a tether and a seam. A seam may be arranged to form a fold in one of the two walls. The biasing means <NUM> is preferably arranged in the area A where a fold is formed when the two elongated face portions <NUM> are folded over in a direction towards the respective chest portions <NUM> to allow the first and the second attachment portions <NUM>, <NUM> to be attached to the respective connection portions <NUM>, <NUM>.

Now turning to <FIG>, an alternative way of manufacturing the airbag <NUM> is disclosed. As given above, the airbag <NUM> may be woven in one piece to define a unitary inflatable cavity. The so called one-piece-weaving technique (OPW) does however have some limitations when it comes the positioning of the two elongated face portions. From an inflation and deployment aspect, it may sometimes be more favourable to let the elongated face portions <NUM> extend from the peripheral edge portion of the central opening <NUM> of the C-shaped neck portion <NUM>. This position is however difficult to accomplish from a weaving standpoint. The advantage of arranging the elongated face portions <NUM> to extend from the inner peripheral edge of the central opening <NUM> is that a faster inflation is allowed and hence a faster deployment of the airbag <NUM> in the event of an accident. There is no need for the <NUM> degrees folding over. To overcome this, the technique to be described below may be used.

The airbag <NUM> is woven in one piece to define a unitary inflatable cavity <NUM>. The elongated face portions <NUM> are woven to extend from the outer peripheral edge <NUM> of the airbag <NUM>.

After weaving, the elongated face portion/s <NUM> is detached by cutting. The thus-cut-off face portion <NUM> is re-attached in a different position, such as along the peripheral edge <NUM> of the central opening <NUM> of the C-shaped neck portion <NUM>. The peripheral edge <NUM> of the central opening <NUM> is provided with an elongated tube <NUM> to facilitate the re-attachment. Any remaining portion <NUM> after detaching the elongated face portions <NUM> may be used as a gas inlet portion. The skilled person realises that the joint between the two pieces to be attached may be formed in a number of ways, not further discussed.

This methodology of one-piece-weaving a unitary inflatable cavity <NUM>, and then detaching and re-attaching a portion <NUM>, <NUM> allows a better loom layout and a greater design freedom when weaving the airbag <NUM> in one piece.

The skilled person realises that the first and the second elongated face portions <NUM> in yet another embodiment may be formed separately from the C-shaped neck portion <NUM> and be joined to the C-shaped neck portion <NUM> to thereby define a unitary inflatable cavity <NUM>.

Now turning to <FIG>, a second embodiment of an airbag <NUM>' is disclosed. The embodiment of <FIG> has the overall same design as that discussed above with reference to <FIG>. The two elongated face portions <NUM> differ slightly in the design of the second sections <NUM> by being mirrored in view of the embodiment of <FIG>. The first elongated attachment portions <NUM> are arranged along the two opposing long sides of the first and second elongated face portions <NUM>. The two elongated attachment portions <NUM> are configured, just as in the first embodiment of <FIG>, to be connected to a respective inner peripheral connection portion <NUM> of the central opening <NUM> in an area adjacent the opposing edge portions <NUM> of the mouth <NUM>. The attachment may be made by sewing, welding or adhesive bonding, or by using mechanical connecting means such as a buttons or rivets. It is advantageous if each attachment portion <NUM> has a length that allows a connection along at least <NUM>-<NUM> % of the full length of the inner peripheral connection portion <NUM> of the central opening <NUM>.

The embodiment of <FIG> does not have any attachment portions that are configured to connect to the two chest portions <NUM>. Further, as yet another difference to the embodiment of <FIG>, the edge portion of the central opening <NUM> in the C-shaped neck portion <NUM> is provided with a gas inlet <NUM> that is configured to be connected to a non-disclosed gas injector.

Turning to <FIG>, a third embodiment of an airbag <NUM>" is disclosed highly schematically. The gas inlet <NUM> is arranged in a position between the two elongated face portions <NUM>.

Now turning to <FIG>, three different views of an airbag <NUM> according to the invention is disclosed in its inflated and fully deployed condition and as worn on a wearers body. The airbag <NUM> is of the same type that is disclosed in <FIG>.

<FIG> discloses a front view, from which it can be seen how the chest and shoulder portions <NUM>, <NUM> extend across the thorax area and the shoulders of the wearer and also how the second sections <NUM> of the first and second elongated face portions <NUM> extend across the facial area. The tabs <NUM> of the two second attachment portions <NUM> are shown as connecting to a respective connecting portion <NUM> of the two chest portions <NUM>. It should be stressed that the two first attachment portions connecting to the respective connecting portions of the central opening of the C-shaped neck portion will be hidden when the airbag <NUM> is inflated and are hence not illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> discloses a side view, from which it can be seen how the chest and shoulder portions <NUM>, <NUM> of the airbag <NUM> extend across the thorax area and the shoulders and also how the first and second sections <NUM> of the first and second elongated face portions <NUM> extend across the facial area. Especially, it can be seen how the different widths W1 and W2 of the first and second sections <NUM>, <NUM> of the elongated face portions <NUM> allow the user to wear a helmet if wanted. It can also be seen how the airbag <NUM>, via a gas inlet <NUM> communicates with a gas generator <NUM> that is supported by a back panel <NUM> forming part of a harness <NUM>.

<FIG> discloses a rear view, from which it may be seen how the two elongated face portions <NUM> extend from the C-shaped neck portion <NUM> and are folded substantially <NUM> degrees, see arrow, to allow a protection of the facial area of the user. The gas injector <NUM> that is supported by the back panel <NUM> of the harness <NUM> is connected to the gas inlet <NUM>. The gas inlet <NUM> is in this embodiment arranged in a position between one of the two shoulder portions <NUM> and the elongated face portions <NUM>.

Now turning to <FIG>, one embodiment of a harness <NUM> to be worn on the torso of a wearer is disclosed. The harness is thus part of a wearable safety system. The harness <NUM> is disclosed as being part of a backpack. The airbag (not shown), which as such has a design as described above, is folded and/or rolled before being arranged in the harness. The C-shaped neck portion, the first and second elongated face portions and the first and second shoulder portions of the airbag are received in an upper portion of a back panel of the harness. The first and the second chest portions are received in a respective shoulder strap of the harness.

The back panel and the two shoulder straps are each provided with a split line to allow a controlled rupturing as the airbag is inflated.

Accordingly, the invention refers to an airbag that is configured to be part of a wearable safety system to allow a facial protection. To obtain a good coverage of both the face and the thorax area, the airbag needs to be tightly closed around the users face and body when inflated and deployed. The C-shaped neck portion, having a mouth merging with a central opening creates a robust closing function around the user's neck. As the thus formed, substantially round neck portion is inflated, it will contribute to the guiding of the other portions of the airbag, such as the first and second face to a position across the face of the user. This guidance is facilitated not only by the C-shaped body as such, but also by the first and the second first-type attachment portions of the first and second elongated face portions. These attachment portions are attached to a respective inner peripheral edge portion of the central opening of the neck portion in an area adjacent, and on opposite sides of the mouth of the neck portion. Thus, the first and second elongated face portions merge and extend from a rear end of the C-shaped neck portion in an area opposite the mouth to a front end of the C-shaped neck portion adjacent its mouth. Thereby, the airbag will, in an inflated and deployed condition, form a portion that primarily extends around the user's neck and a portion that primarily extends above the neck portion and from the user's rear neck towards the user's facial area. Thus, not only does a thus inflated and deployed airbag protect the user's facial area, but it also encircles the neck.

Claim 1:
An airbag configured to be part of a wearable safety system to allow the provision of a facial protection, the airbag (<NUM>) comprising, as seen in a flat, noninflated condition:
a C-shaped neck portion (<NUM>)
characterized by the C-shaped neck portion (<NUM>)
defining a mouth (<NUM>) merging with a central opening (<NUM>) configured to receive the neck of a user, whereby the neck portion (<NUM>) is allowed to partially encircle the neck of the user;
a first and a second elongated face portion (<NUM>) extending from the C-shaped neck portion (<NUM>) in an area opposite the mouth (<NUM>), each face portion (<NUM>) having two opposing long sides; wherein
a first attachment portion (<NUM>) of one of the two opposing long sides of the first face portion (<NUM>) is attached to an inner peripheral edge portion (<NUM>) of the central opening (<NUM>) in an area adjacent a first edge portion (<NUM>) of the mouth (<NUM>), and a first attachment portion (<NUM>) of one of the two opposing long sides of the second face portion (<NUM>) is attached to an inner peripheral edge portion (<NUM>) of the central opening (<NUM>) in an area adjacent a second edge portion (<NUM>) of the mouth (<NUM>).