medifab Houdini 31 Harness Car Seat User Manual
- June 9, 2024
- medifab
Table of Contents
medifab Houdini 31 Harness Car Seat User Manual
This harness is fitted with the steel safety buckle to the chest & waist straps as standard. Fits most types of vehicle seating including single & double seats. To fit the harness access is required between the seat back and seat cushion.
Model 31 is available in two sizes:
3 yrs to 11 yrs 31A
12 yrs to Adult 31B
Also available with Horizontal Fixing Straps for single seats without access
between the seat back and seat cushion.
See Model 32 (Non stock item)
IMPORTANT: This harness is not classed as a safety harness.
The vehicle safety belt MUST be worn over the top of our harness unless they
are exempt for medical reasons. The combination of the existing safety belt &
the secondary harness offers added security for the passenger.
Squeeze Adjuster to release webbing & extend straps. Pull tail-ends of straps to tighten
Crelling Harnesses For Disabled Ltd.
12 Crescent East, Thornton-Cleveleys,
Lancashire, FY5 3LJ
Tel: 01253 852298 Fax: 01253 821780
Email: [email protected] Website:
www.crelling.com
- If fitting a brand new harness, remove any Rubber Bands & unfasten the two vertical fixing straps.
- Holding the two aluminium bar buckles (attached to the upper section of vertical fixing straps) place the back pad of the harness against the front of the seat back & place the fixing straps up & over the seat back.
- Pass the tail ends of the two lower sections of the vertical fixing straps (on either side of the understrap) down through the gap between the seat back and seat cushion.
- The Understrap should remain lying on the seat cushion.
- Now feed the tail ends of the fixing straps up through the Aluminium Bar Buckles & pull down to tighten around the seat back as securely as possible.
- Each tail end should then be passed through the Sliplock Slide to prevent the Fixing Straps from loosening during transit.
- Unfasten the waist & chest belts & remove them from their webbing loops on either side of the chest pad.
- The chest pad is now free to be rested over the headrest. The shoulder straps may need to be extended to do this.
- Position the understrap centrally on the seat cushion.
- If the passenger is under 135cm place a booster cushion on top of the understap to comply with child seat safety legislation.
- Position the back pad so that the waist belt will be in line with the passengers waist.
- The harness is now ready for the passenger to be seated.
- With the passenger sitting in the most upright position as possible, bring the shoulder straps & chest pad over the passengers head & position it on their chest.
- Adjust the shoulder straps to bring the bottom of the chest pad to waist level.
- Locate the waist belt (lower strap) and thread through the lower vertical webbing loops on either side of the chest pad before fastening the buckle.
- Adjust waist belt to fit tightly yet comfortably.
- Repeat with chest strap (upper strap, passing through upper loops).
- Position the buckles centrally at waist & chest level. Nb. The waist & chest belts can move freely through the leatherette back pad.
- Open the waist belt buckle, extend the understrap & add the comfort sleeve. Now bring the understrap up between the legs and loop it over the waistbelt buckle before refastening. Pull tail end to tighten understrap.
- Ensure that all straps are adjusted securely & comfortably.
- The Comfort Sleeves should now be added to the shoulder straps.
- Fasten the vehicle safety belt over the top of the Model 31 Harness.
Steel Safety Buckle
This buckle has proven extremely successful when fitted to our harnesses as an alternative to the standard ‘quick release’ buckle. It helps prevent those passengers with inquisitive fingers, challenging behaviour or learning difficulties from releasing the harness buckle. The buckle operates in reverse to the standard vehicle buckles as it is opened by raising a spring loaded lever or over-catch and will not press release. The spring loaded over-catch locks the buckle when assembled and prevents accidental opening. There is a knurled sliding bar for adjustment designed to prevent webbing slip. The buckle is made from Type 316 Stainless Steel and Nylon 6 and is assembled with tamper proof screws. 40mm buckle – B/Strain 630 kgs. 50mm buckle – B/Strain 500 kgs We recommend that the buckle instructions provided with each harness are displayed in a prominent position in the vehicle – to instruct the user how to release the buckle mechanism in the event of an accident.
40mm Adjuster Buckle
To Extend Straps
The 40mm Adjuster is slightly spring loaded to lock the webbing into position.
To release the webbing you need to squeeze the Adjuster whilst pulling on the
lower webbing strap.
To Tighten Straps
Simply pull the tail-end of the webbing strap. The Adjuster will lock the
webbing into position
50mm Aluminium Bar Buckle
Loose ends of webbing are often passed back through these slides to prevent slippage & to prevent the Fixing Straps from loosening during transit.
Emergency Seat Belt Cutter
We strongly recommend that a seat belt cutter is kept in the vehicle as a
safety precaution for those harnesses fitted with a Steel Safety Buckle. It is
perfectly safe as the blade is encased.
Cat. Ref: SK
Terms & Conditions
General
We reserve the right to change these Terms and Conditions at any time. It is
your responsibility to read the Terms and Conditions each time you visit the
web site and your use of the website will be deemed as your acceptance to be
bound by the latest Terms and Conditions.
Crelling Harnesses are not classed as Safety Harnesses
The vehicle safety belt MUST be worn over the top of all Crelling Vehicle
Harnesses unless a Certificate of Medical Exemption from Compulsory Seat Belt
Wearing has been issued by a Doctor / General Practitioner (GP). The
combination of the existing safety belt & the secondary harness offers added
security for the passenger.
Care & Maintenance Instructions
Care & Maintenance Instructions are enclosed with every order. These MUST be
read carefully before fitting a harness and followed for correct use.
Quality Assurance
Every effort is made to maintain a high standard of quality and reliability
through precise specification, inspection and testing. New and improved
components are constantly being added and designs updated where appropriate.
Our products have been on the market for over 40 years and our designs have
been developed and used successfully over this time. We are a certified
member of the British Healthcare Trades Association and abide by the BHTA Code
of Practice and the British Chamber of Commerce. We were awarded The
Prestigious Award 2007 for businesses in the caring sector. Our harnesses have
been designed to provide extra postural support and help clients maintain an
upright position when seated in most types of seating. Many designs also offer
a certain degree of restraint for those with challenging behaviour or learning
difficulties.
They are not safety harnesses and all vehicle harnesses should be worn in conjunction with the existing safety belt.
Cancellations
If you should decide to cancel your order, please advise us as soon as
possible. We will also require confirmation of the cancellation in writing
(email, letter or fax) giving us your purchase order details (including
official Purchase Order No. where applicable). If the cancellation is advised
to us after the order has been despatched, you will be responsible for any
courier/postage charges for its return. NB. Your right to cancel an order
starts the moment you place your order and ends 14 days from the day you
receive your goods. If your order consists of multiple goods, the 14 days runs
from when you get the last of the batch. This 14 day period is the time you
have to decide whether to keep the goods or not and you then have a further 14
days to actually send the goods back to us. If there are special circumstances
where it is not possible to return items within this 14 day period please
contact us to discuss the matter as we do try to be flexible to meet your
needs.
Your right to a refund
You should get a refund within 14 days of either our company receiving back
the returned goods, or you providing evidence of having returned the goods to
us (for example: a proof of postage receipt from the post office etc.),
whichever is sooner. A deduction can be made if the value of the goods has
been reduced as a result of you handling the goods more than was necessary.
Goods should be returned in as new and clean condition. We will refund the
cost of the goods plus the basic delivery cost (excluding the packing charge)
of getting the goods to you in the first place, so if you opted for enhanced
service to return goods, for example: Guaranteed Next Day, we will only refund
the basic postage cost.
Returning faulty goods
On delivery, the purchaser shall carry out a visual examination of the goods
and shall notify the company within fourteen (14) days of any defect revealed
by such examination. Without such notification, we will deem the goods
satisfactory in respect of any defect that such an examination should reveal.
From time to time some products may develop minor faults. Should this happen
during your guarantee period we can arrange for your goods to be repaired or
replaced where necessary.
Payment
Once we have received your order and checked our stock availability the
payment will be processed. Goods are subject to availability and in the event
that we are unable to supply your request, we will notify you as soon as
possible. In this case, any goods that have been paid for will be fully
refunded.
Security
At Crelling Harnesses Ltd. we take Security very seriously. Our Payment
processing partner uses the latest security to ensure that your credit card
details are always protected when you shop online. When shopping online
Crelling Harnesses Ltd. never receives your credit card information, this is
all taken care of by our processing partner.
Privacy Policy
Crelling Harnesses Ltd. does not disclose any information on its customers to
any third party on any occasion. Please see our Privacy Policy for further
information.
Guarantee
All our products are fully guaranteed for 12 months from the date the goods
are supplied. If the product you have purchased develops a material or
manufacturing fault within 12 months of purchase, and the fault has not been
the result of abuse, misuse or negligence, incorrectly fitted or normal wear
and tear, return it to Crelling Harnesses Ltd. with proof of purchase. We
recommend that you keep your receipt in a safe place. We reserve the right to
return the product to the original manufacturer where appropriate, to
determine the nature of the fault. We will, at our discretion, repair, replace
with same or similar item, or refund the cost of the product. Any postage
charges incurred in returning the goods will be reimbursed. Your statutory
rights are not affected by this guarantee.
Get Wise to making a complaint
We are an approved member of the BHTA which represents healthcare and
assistive technology products and services in the U.K. As a BHTA member we
have signed up to a special Code of Practice which has been granted full
Office of Fair Trading approval under the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme
(CCAS). If you’ve just bought a product and for whatever reason, are not happy
with it, please contact us Please also see the BHTA ‘Get wise to making a
complaint’ leaflet that aims to explain how to go about it. This leaflet is
enclosed with every order. It can also be downloaded from our website
–www.crelling.com/information.html
If you have any queries regarding our products please contact us:-
Crelling Harnesses Ltd.
12 Crescent East
Thornton-Cleveleys
Lancashire
FY5 3LJ
Tel: 01253 852298 – Calls can be taken between 09:00-12:00 & 13:30-16:00,
Monday to Friday.
Fax: 01253 821780
Email: [email protected]
Care & Maintenance Instructions
Please read instructions carefully before fitting and follow them for correct use. If there is any query or problem with the suitability of the product, please do not hesitate to contact us. Retain these instructions for future reference. It is most important that the operating & maintenance instructions are kept with each harness. Especially if being transferred to new users. Additional copies of these instructions are available on request. They can also be found on our website.
IMPORTANT:
Our range of harnesses are not classed as safety harnesses. The vehicle safety
belt MUST be worn over the top of our harness unless they are exempt for
medical reasons. The combination of the existing safety belt & the secondary
harness offers added security for the passenger.
General maintenance of our belts & harnesses
Before each use check that the belt or harness is in a satisfactory condition and is appropriate for the user. Ensure that all belts and harnesses are fitted, adjusted and used correctly. It is also very important that they are maintained & cleaned in accordance with the instructions below:
- We strongly advise that a carer, O.T. or G.P. etc. Who is familiar with the patients requirements is consulted prior to the selection of a harness. The clients condition together with the type of seating/equipment is most important in choosing the most suitable belt/harness. An inappropriate selection may prove uncomfortable or harmful for the occupant.
- Please refer to the appropriate fitting instructions for each model of belt or harness. These are enclosed with every harness. Additional copies are available upon request.
- Regularly inspect the belt or harness for damage, wear or malfunction. If any problems are identified replace it immediately.
- Belts and harnesses should be replaced if they show any sign of fraying or cuts.
- Regular checks are also necessary to assess the harness is still meeting the needs of the user as over time these needs may change.
- If the equipment was used during an accident, it should be replaced immediately.
- Avoid contact with corrosive liquids and keep the webbing away from sharp edges.
- If storing a harness with a PVC/Leatherette chest or back pad, do not fold. This may create creases which could cause discomfort to the passenger.
- Do not attempt to modify the equipment,. Any modifications to our belts or harnesses will void the warranty.
- If there is any query or problem with the suitability of the product, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Washing Instructions
- All webbing and components can be cleaned by hand as necessary.
- HAND WASH ONLY . Do not machine wash or tumble dry.
- Please use warm soapy water (up to 70/80˚) and a clean soft cloth.
- Mild detergent, anti bacterial wash, disinfectant or a mild spray disinfectant can be used – but do not use products containing bleach.
- Rinse with clear water, and allow to air dry.
- IMPORTANT: when cleaning or disinfecting do not immerse buckles in disinfectant or water.
Transport of Special Needs Passengers
Disabled children and adult passengers travelling in vehicles should always wear a safety belt or special restraint during transport. Our range of vehicle harnesses are not designed to replace the seat belt but work in conjunction with it to offer both safety plus support and in some cases a certain degree of restraint.
- The existing seat belt fitted in the vehicle may not offer sufficient support to the more severely disabled and it may be necessary to provide an extra restraint to hold the passenger in an upright sitting position, in combination with the seat belt.
- Front seat, disabled passengers in vehicles, frequently fall sideways out of the diagonal section of the seat belt, especially going around corners or sudden braking. two vertical static shoulder straps would offer additional support.
- The law requires all children travelling in cars to use the correct child car seat until they are either 135 cm in height or the age of 12 (which ever they reach first). After this they must use an adult seat belt. if the passenger is under 12 years or 135cm, please refer to our ‘Child Seats & Suggested Products’ literature to ensure the child is using the correct child seat & to see which of our products can be used.
- Special Needs passengers should never be left unattended whilst using any item in our range. Belts, harnesses or products should only be used whilst under the constant supervision of a parent, carer or guardian.
IMPORTANT: Our range of harnesses are not classed as safety harnesses. The vehicle safety belt MUST be worn over the top of our harness unless they are exempt for medical reasons. The combination of the existing safety belt & the secondary harness offers added security for the passenger.
Booster Cushions
Illustrating one of our harnesses fitted in conjunction with the existing vehicle safety belt.
Booster cushions can be used in conjunction with all our range of vehicle harnesses. This helps to raise the child to the correct height for wearing the vehicle safety belt.
For current laws and guidelines please visit:
www.rospa.com
or
www.childcarseats.org.uk
Distributed by Medifab Ltd
32 Detroit Drive
Rolleston 7675
New Zealand
+64 3 307 9790
[email protected]
www.medifab.com
References
- Home | Child Car Seats
- Crelling Harnesses - Special Needs Harness Manufacturer
- Home Page - Medifab : Medifab
- RoSPA – The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents - RoSPA