G.27.2009 18:59 #2838 P.004 Australian Patents Act 1990 Original Complete Specification Innovation Patent Invention Title: CHILD SAFETY SEAT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing known to me: COMS ID No: ARCS-247386 Received by IP Australia: Time (H:m) 18:10 Date (Y-M-d) 2009-08-27 G.27.2009 18:59 #2B35 P.005 CI 1LD SAFETY SEAT Cross-Reference to Related Applications The present application is a divisional application of pending Australian Patent Application No. 2008261158, which claims priority from Australian.Provisional Patent Application No. 2007907014 filed on 21 December 2007, the contents of which is 5 incorporated herein by reference. Field of the Invention The present application relates to child safety seats for use in vehicles, and in particular, to a child safety scat for accommodating a separate harness for securing a 10 child within the safety seat. Background of the Tnvention In order to transport infants and young children in vehicles, it is required that they be restrained to the vehicle by way of specially constructed seats. 15 A variety of dilTerent types of seating arrangements exist to accommodate children of di lTerent ages. For infants up to the age of six months, rear-facing seats are typically employed. Rear-lacing seats are secured to the vehicle such that the infant back is facing away from the direction of travel ol the vehicle and the infant is restrained in the seat by way of a harness arrangement that is typically integrated into the seat. 20 As a child grows and inlant seats are no longer suitable, a variety of forward lacing seat options are available for use. Such forward facing seats may employ harness arrangements that are integrated into the seat, or may be arranged to cooperate with the shoulder/lap seat belt system provided with the vehicle. For older children, a variety of "booster" seats are available to-accommodate the 25 child until they grow to a size and weight suitable to use the vehicles installed shoulder/lap scat belt systems. Such "booster" seats are typically designed to securely accommodate and elevate the child in a manner that enables the vehicle's shoulder/lap seat belt system to be salQy employed to restrain the child within the seat In this regard, the booster seat need not be secured to the scat as the booster seat elevates the child in a 30 manner that enables correct positioning of the shoulder/lap belts of the vehicle scat belt system about the child to secure both the child and the seat in position. To provide added security and safety to the child, it has been proposed to provide - "booster" seats with their own harness or add-on harness, to secure the child therein. Such harness systems may work independently of the vehicle's shoulder/lap seat belt, or 35 work in conjunction with the shoulder/lap seat belt. Typically, the harness systems proposed comprise a pair of straps that are arranged to extend over each shoulder of the 2 COMS ID No: ARCS-247386 Received by IP Australia: lime (H:m) 18:10 Date (Y-M-d) 2009-08-27 child and laterally along either side of the child's chest. The straps typically terminate at a buckle fitted between the child's groin, or at a lap belt extending over the child's lap. The position of the shoulder straps are typically adjustable to accommodate a variety of children. One common problem with such a harness system is that the shoulder straps 5 are prone to slippage and parting during use, particularly as the child moves, resulting in the harness falling off the child's shoulders and becoming ineffective as a restraint. Whilst a variety of straps or clips have been proposed to extend between the shoulder straps to reduce the tendency of the straps to part and/or slip oft the shoulders during use, such straps/clips have typically been fixed and unable to acconunodate 10 different sized children and children of differing ages. Similarly, as the straps/clips extend across the chest of the child they can pose a choking risk to the child if located at the neck region of the child. Such narrow straps or clips may also apply a concentrated force against the child in the region of the strap/clip, particularly in the event of an accident. Such a large and concentrated force may damage the child's delicate organs 15 and cause severe injury, and in some instances, death, if incorrectly fitted. There is a need to provide a restraint system for use with a child safety seat of a vehicle that is suitable for use with children of a variety of ages and sizes in a safe and controlled manner. Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which 20 has been included in the present specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application. 25 Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect, there is provided a child safety seat for a vehicle, comprising: *a body adapted to receive a child therein, the body having a backrest portion and a 30 seat portion; and a headrest mounted to the body such that at least a portion of the headrest extends beyond the backrest portion of the body; wherein the headrest is movable with respect to the body to adjust the portion of the headrest that extends beyond the backrest portion of the body, and at least one recess 35 is provided in the portion of the headrest that extends beyond the backrest portion of the body to provide a passage for a harness to pass therethrough remote from the backrest Portion such that an end of the harness is securable with respect to an anchorage point on the vehicle remote from the body. In one einbodinient, the headrest may be slidably mounted to the backrest and 40 may be movable to extend from or retract into the backrest to adjust the height of the headrest with respect to the body. The at least one recess may be ruined in the headrest 3 G.27.2009 18:59 #2838 P.007 such that adjustment oif the licight of the headrest with respect to the body may adjusts. the position of the at least one recess -with respect to the body. TFhe at least one recess may comprise a pair of slots lbrni.ed in the headrest. Each slot may he configured to receive a shoulder strap of the harness. 5 The child safety seat may further include a tether configured to secure the body with respect to die vehicle anchorage point. According to a second aspect, the present invention is a restraint device for securing a child in a vehicle safety seat; comprising:. a harness having a pair of shoulder straps configured to extend over the shoulders Jo of the child and along lateral sides of the child's chbest so as to connect with a vehicle seat belt extending over the lap of the child; and at band member con figured to he connectable between saidl shoulder straps% of the harness so as; to extend substantially across the child's chest, said band member having -a loop formed therein through which the vehicle seat belt passes as it extends over the -lap ii of the child. In one embodiment, the band member comprises a pair of sleeves through which the shoulder straps are received. Each sleeve may include one or more engagement members that engage with shoulder strap received therein- The engagement members may include one or more press studs, hook and loop fasteners and the like provided on 20 both the sleeve and the shoulder strap to facilitate enigagemnent therebetween. The hand member may be configured so as to substantially cover the torso of the child when the child is positioned in the seat, In another embodiment, each shoulder strap of the harness has one or more loops provided at a distal end thereof through which the vehicle scat belt passes as it extends 25 over the lap of the child. The shoulder-straps may he in the form of a single strap. The single strap may be connected at a central region there of to a tether strap which in turn is connected to an anchorage point of the vehicle. In another embodiment, the pair. of' shoulder straps may extend. over an upper region of the seat so as to be secured to a vehiecanchorage point located behind the seat. 30 lit one formn, the pair of shoulder straps may extend through one or more slois proyided in the seat to facilitate SCCtirCeent of the shoulder straps to. a vehicle anchorage point located behind the seat. The one or more slots may be. formed in a backrest of the seat. Alternatively, die one or more slots may be formed in a headrest of' the seat. 1The hieadrest may be adjustable in height with respect to the scat, such that adjustment of'the 35: height ol' the headrest may facilitate adjustment of the length of the pair of shoulder straps. According ito another aspect, the present invention provides a harness for a child safety seat, the harness comprising: a pair of shoulder straps configured to extend over 54 10 SI o RS278 eeve yPAsrla ie(~) 81 aet--)20.82 G.27.2009 19:00 #2835 P.008 the shoulders of the child and along lateral sides of the child's chest so as to connect with a vehicle seat belt extending over the lap of the child at a first end, and to an anchor point at a second end. In one embodiment of this aspect, the first end of the pair of shoulder straps includes one or more loops for receiving the vehicle seat belt as it extends over the lap of the child. In one forrm, the second end of the shoulder straps may include one or more loops for facilitating connection with a spreader plate. In another inr the second end of the shoulder straps may include a tether strap for facilitating connection to a vehicle anchorage point. 10 Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as comprisess" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated clement, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. 15 Brief Description of the Drawings By way of example only, the invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings: FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a band member of a child restrain system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 20 FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a harness arrangement of a child restraint system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; FTG. 3 is a front perspective view of a child restraint system employing the band member of FIG. I and the harness arrangement of FTR. 2; FIG. 4A is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a child 25 restraint system of the present invention employed with a vehicle safety seat for a child; FIG. 413 is a front perspective view of yet another alternative embodiment of a child restraint system of the present invention employed with a vehicle safety seat for a child; FIG. 5 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a child restraint system of 30 the present invention; FIG. 6A is a rear view ol'one embodiment of the arrangement of FIG. 5; FIG. 61B is a rear view of an alternative embodiment of the arrangement of FIG, 5; FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a harness arrangement according to the present invention; 35 FIG. 8 is a front view of yet another embodiment of a child restraint system according to the present invention; PTG. 9 is a rear view of the child restraint system of FIG. 8; COMS ID No: ARCS-247386 Received by IP Australia: Time (H:m) 18:10 Date (Y-M-d) 2009-08-27 G.27.2009 19:00 #283B P.009 FTG. 10 is a front perspective view of an alternative. embodiment of the child restraint system shown in FIG. 8; and FIG.1 1is a rear view of the child restraint system of FIG. 10. 5 Detailed Description of an Exemplary Embodiment of the Invention One embodiment of a child restraint system It0 in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention is shown in FIG. 3. The restraint system 10 generally comprises a harness arrangement 12 that is anchored to a vehicle anchorage point (not shown) by way of a hook 15 in combination with a tether strap 13. The tether strap 13 includes an i0 adjuster mechanism II to enable adjustment of' the length of the tether strap 13, as desired. The harness arrangement 12 is shown in isolation in FIG. 2, and inclLdes a pair of shoulder straps 14 arranged to extend over the shoulders of a child seated in a suitable safety seat and along opposing sides of the child's chest. In the embodiment as shown, 15 the shoulder straps 14 are formed as a single strap connected at a central point to the tether strap 13. However, it will be appreciated that the shoulder straps 14 may be separate straps and connected to the tether strap 13 in a variety of ways and still fall within the spirit olthe present invention. The shoulder straps 14 have a series of closed loops 16 provided adjacent a distal 20 end thereof. The loops 16 arc preferably formed of the same material as the shoulder straps 14, for example a woven material. In this regard, the loops 16 are formed by stitching the material to the shoulder straps to form loops 16 of a desired size and at a desired location along the length of the shoulder straps 14. Alternatively, the shoulder straps 14 may he a continuous length of material fblded back upon itself, with the loops 25 16 formed by stitching the material at regular intervals. As shown, Abe loops 16 are provided such that a belt 17 of' the vehicle seat belt system can be to threadingly received through the loops 16 in the manner as shown. In this arrangement, the shoulder straps 14 of the harness 12 are secured at one end to the vehicle anchorage point by way of tether strap 13, and at the other end to the vehicle seat 30 belt system by way of loops 1.6. In the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, three sets of loops 16 arc provided and/or formed at the distal ends of each shoulder strap 14. This allows the harness system 12 to.be supplied in a "one-size-fits-all" manner, as the harness 12 can be readily adjusted by using different combination of loops 16 to accommodate children of different 35 sizes and ages. Tt will be appreciated that whilst three sets loops 16 are shown, the actual number of loops 16 within a set may vary and still fall within the spirit of the present invention. 6 COMS ID No: ARCS-247388 Received by IP Australia: lime (I-:m) 18:10 Date (Y-M-d) 2009-08-27 G.27.2009 19:00 #283B P.010 To further restrain the child within a safety scat, the child restraint system 10 includes a band member 18. The hand member 18 is shown in more detail in FIG. I and comprises a piece or pieces of material shaped to extend across the child's chest -and torso region. Such an arrangement ensures that, even in the event that one or both oFtbe 5 shoulder straps 14 slip oill the shoulder of the child, the band member will extend across the child's chest to restrain the child in the seat As shown in FTCT. 1 &-the upper region or Ithe banid member 18 is shaped to form a collar I Sa that is received below the neck of the child. The collar 18a Is substantially U or V-shaped to provide clearance between the collar 1 Sa and the child's neck, so asto to prevent thie hand member applying pressure to the child's neck when positioned. The band member 18 can be made in a variety of materials; 'Such ws a mesh, fabric, PVC and the like. 'The type of material used may be chosen with respect to the strength of the material as well as other properties, such as comfort, ability to be cleaned, breathability and the like. 15 The band member 18 comprises a pair of sleeves 19 extending along the lateral sides thereof, through which the shoulder straps 14 are received. To correctly position the band member 18 on the shoulder straps 14, an engagement member 21 is provided within the sleeves 19. in die embodiment us shown, the engagement member 21 is in the form of a press-stud, which engages with one or more press-studs lbr-med on the surface 20 of the shoulder straps 14. Tt willI be appreciated that the engagement member may also be in the form of a hook and loop fiastener, such as Velcro®O, or any other suitable arrangement which provides engagement between the straps 14 and the sleeves 19. The bottom portion ol' the band member 18 is configured to form a closed loop 20. The closed loop 20 is sized to receive the belt 17 of the vehicle seat belt system in the 25 manner as shown in FIG. 3. In this anrangement, the band -member 18 is seeured to the seat bclt. system of the vehicle to prevent t he band member 18 from riding up around the neck of the child during use. Further, in the embodiment us shown in FIGT. .3, the band nmembher 18 is arranged such that it is secure d to the harness 12 and the belt 17 of the vehicle's seat kilt system. This is achieved independently to any salioty seat 30 arrangement, thereby enabling the child restraint system It) to be used with a variety of different safety seats, or in the absence nft safety seat. Referring to FIG. 4A, a child restraint system 22 iii accordance with another embodiment of die present invention is shown in use wit a vehicle child salty seat, such as a booster seat 24- The child restraint system 22 is substantially identical to the 315 chilId restraint system 10 described above, and Jbr reasons of clarity, the same reference numerals Will be USe to describe similar features. The main difference between the child restraint system 22 and the child restraint system 10 is that in the system 22 the Shoulder straps 14 are formed as separate straps 7 COMS IDNo:ARCS-24738 Received by iP Australia: rime (H:m) i8:i Date (Y-M-d) 2009-08-27 G.27.2009 19:00 #2B3B P.011 that extend back to the hook member 15 directly, rather than by way or the tether strap 13. In this regard,-a plurality of slots 25 are provided through. the backrest portion of the seat 24 to provide a passage for the straps 14 to pass therethrough. Alternatively, the straps may extend over the top of the seat, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8. The 5 hook member 15 is attachable to a vehicle anchorage point 23, which is located in a variety of positions within the vehicle. In an alternative embodiment, an extension strap (not shown) may be attached to the hook member 15 to lengthen the reach ol' straps 14. Such an extension strap may be connected to the anchorage point 23 of die vehicle at a. one end; by way of a hook 10 member similar to hook member 15. The other end of the extension strap may comprise a connector to receive hook member 15 of the shoulder straps, thereby extending the reach of shoulder straps 14. The extension strap may include an adjustor to further assist in adjusting the system to suit the needs of the child or. vehicle. To adjust the length of the shoulder straps 14, an adjuster mechanism (not shown), 15 may be provided in one or both of the straps 14. The adjuster mechanism may be located in the region of tie strap between the seat 24 and the hook 15, or in the region adjacent the band member 18. FTG. 41 shows an adjuster mechanism 14a provided to adjust the shoulder straps 14 in the region adjacent the band member 18. The adjuster mechanism 14a is located 20 within the sleeve 19 of the band member :18 so as to isolate the body of the mechanism 14a from contact with the child. The sleeve 19 provides padded protection about the adjuster mechanism 14a such that the adjuster mechanism 14a does not come into direct contact with the child, thereby reducing the likelihood of injury. In the arrangement as shown in FIG; 4, the restraint system 22 is not secured to 25 the seat 24 but rather to the vehicle at an upper region, by way of the vehicle anchorage point 23, and at a lower region, by way of the belt 17 of the vehicle seat belt system. As such, the restraint system can be used with a variety of seating arrangements and is not limited to use with a specific scat. Referring to FIGS. 5, 6a, and 6R the child restraint system 10 of FIGS. I - 3 is 30 shown in use with an alternative child safety seat 30. The seat 30 is of a booster seat type of' child vehicle safety seats and has an adjustable headrest 31. The headrest 31 has a handle 33, which can be gripped by a user to adjust the vertical height of the headrest 31 in the direction of the arrows A as shown. Slots 32 are formed through the body of the headrest 31, through which the 35 shoulder straps 14 pass as shown. In this arrangement, rather than the distal ends of the straps 14 having a plurality of loops 16 formed therein, only a single loop is provided to receive the belt 17 of the vehicle seat belt system. In this arrangement, adjustment of the harness 12 to suit children of variable sizes and ages is achieved by adjusting the headrest COMS ID No: ARCS-247386 Received by P Australia: Time (H:m) 18:10 Date (Y-M-d) 2009-08-27 G.27.2009 19:00 #2638 P.012 31. By extending the headrest 31 from the seat 30, any slack in the straps 14 can be taken up by extending the distance travelled by the shoulder straps 14 as they pass through the slots 32. The harness 12 can be adjusted such that the band member 18 is firmly, yet comfortably located over the child's chest in the maner as shown in FIG. 5. S Two alternative embodiments of the rear of the seat 30 of FIG. 5 are shown in FIGS. 6A and 611 As can be seen, a tether 34 is provided to secure the seat 30 to an anchor point of the vehicle. The tether 34 comprises a first strap that extends from a first side of the seat 30, through the hook member 15, to terminate at an adjustor mechanism 35. A second strap then extends from the opposing side of the seat 30 and through the 10 adjustor mechanism 35 such that the length of the tether 34 can be adjusted where applicable. in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the shoulder straps 14 each pass through a looped end of the tether strap 13 such that there is some free movement of the shoulder straps 14 with respect to the tether strap 13 in the direction ol' arrows B. In Fig. 6A the other end of the 15 tether strap 13 is directly secured to the hook member 15 of the tether 34 of the seat, such that it is then indirectly anchored to the vehicle. In Fig. 6B, a buckle 13a is provided to facilitate attachment of the tether strap 13 to the hook member 15 of the seat tether 34. It will be appreciated that the manner in which the shoulder straps 14 and the tether 34 arc secured to the vehicle anchorage point may vary and may include shared components or 20 separate connections, The arrangement as shown in FIGS. 5, 6A and 613 may also be adapted such that rather than the straps 14 passing through the slots 32 lbrmed in the headrest 31, the straps could extend over the top of the headrest 31. In this arrangement, grooves or channels may be formed in the top of the headrest 31 to aid in positioning the straps 14 as they 25 pass over the headrest 31. FIG. 7 shows yet another alternative embodimnent of a harness 38 according to the present invention. For reasons of clarity, the same reference numerals will be used to relbr to similar features as previously described in relation to the system of FIGS, I -- 3. The harness 38 comprises a pair of shoulder straps 39 that are configured to 30 extend over the shoulders of the child and along opposing sides of the child's chest, similar to that as is shown in FTRI 5. The harness 38 is shown for use without the band member 18, and in this regard a horizontal strap 40 is provided at a lower region of the straps 39 to extend across the chest of the child when worn. The horizontal strap 40 functions to maintain the shoulder straps 39 together to reduce the likelihood of slippage 35 and parting of the shoulder straps 39 during use. It will be appreciated that. the harness 38 could also be used with the band member 18 as described above. As described in relation to the harness 12 of FIG. 2, harness 38 also comprises a series of closed loops 41 adjacent a distal end thereof The closed loops 41 are 9 COMS ID No: ARCS-247386 Received by IP Australia: Time (H:m) 18:10 Date (Y-M-d) 2009-08-27 G.27.2009 19:01 #283B P.013 configured to receive a belt 17 of the vehicle seat belt system as previously described, and the series of loops 41 provide a means for adjusting the harness position in accordance with the age and size of tie child. The upper end of the shoulder straps 39 are also provided with a series of closed loops 42, substantially identical to the closed loops 5 41. As shown, loops 42 are provided to receive a spreader plate 44 to facilitate conecCtion of' the shoulder straps 29 to the anchorage point of the vehicle by way of the tether strap 3 and hook element 15. The manner in which spreader plates 44 function are well known in the art, and the provision of multiple sets of loops 42 on the shoulder straps 39 also provides for a degree of adjustmient of the upper region of the harness 38 to 10 accommodate children of variable sizes. In this regard, the spreader plate can he secured to either set of loops 42 in accordance with the needs of the child. THTowever it will be appreciated that only one set of loops 42 need be provided on the shoulder straps. Yet another embodiment of a child restraint system according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In this embodiment, the restraint system 45 is 15 employed in association with a vehicle booster seat 46, however it will be appreciated that the restraint system 45 could also be used with a variety of child vehicle seats. The restraint system 45 is configured to be restrained about the seat 46 in the manner as shown. In this regard, cach shoulder strap 47 has a loop 48 formed at a first cad to receive the belt 17 of the vehicle seat belt system. The other end of each shoulder 20 strap 47 passes over the top of the seat 46 and through a plurality of slots 51. formed through the backrest of the seat 46, to terminate in a loop 49. The loop 49 facilitates connection of that end of the shoulder strap 47 to a spreader plate 50 that is located and secured at the rear of the seat 46. In this regard, the shoulder straps 47 of the harness are secured between the belt 17 and the spreader plate 50. The spreader plate 50 has a belt 25 52 attached thereto which is fed through the base ol' the seat 46 to the front thereof in the manner as shown in FIG. 8. The belt can be tightened or released, as required, to adjust the harness of the restraint system 45 to accommodate children of various ages and sizes. In this regard, an adjuster (not shown) may be incorporated into the base of the seat 46. FIGS. 10 and 11, show an alternative embodiment of the arrangements shown in 30 FIGS. 8 and 9, In this embodiment, rather than the shoulder straps 47 extending over the top of the seat 46, they are each threaded through corresponding slots 51 formed in the backrest of the seat 46. The straps 47 are then weaved through the remaining slots 51 in the manner as shown in FIG. IL. Such an arrangement is particularly applicable for young or smaller sized children, as the straps are positioned with a smaller gap formed 35 therebetween. In the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 8-11, the restraint system 45 includes a band member 18. however, it should be appreciated that the harness arrangement of the 10 COMS ID No: ARCS-247386 Received by IP Australia: Time (H:m) 18:10 Date (Y-M-d) 2009-08-27 G.27.2009 19:01 #223B P.014 /032 restraint system 45 may also be used without the band member 18, in a manner similar to the arrangement of FIG. 7. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous Variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments 5 without departing from the spirit or scope ol' the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. COMS ID No: ARCS-247386 Received by IP Australia: Time (H:m) 18:10 Date (Y-M-d) 2009-08-27