Century ovation encore, Ovation Series, Encore Series Instruction Manual

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Instruction
Manual

Para instrucciones en Español,
llamar al: 1-800-837-4044

www.centuryproducts.com
PM-1458AB 6/01

Avoid injury or death -

Read and understand this manual!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Important Information.....................................1

Warnings.........................................................2

Basic Information.............................................4

Vehicle Seat Belts........................................... 14

• Locking Clip........................................ 19

Additional Information ...................................20

• Installation of Anchor Hardware . .

• Tether Storage

• Care and Cleaning

• Aircraft Use

• Second Hand Car Seat

Instruction manual is for:

• Ovation 5-Point Infant/Toddler Car Seat

• Ovation Overhead Infant/Toddler Car Seat

• Encore 5-Point Infant/Toddler Car Seat

• Encore Overhead Infant/Toddler Car Seat

Instructions for these models are the same unless
otherwise noted.

❃

Before You Begin

❃

Use

❃

Special Information

Height & Weight Limits...................................5

Rear-facing Installation....................................6

Forward-facing Installation..............................7

Placing Child in Car Seat.................................8

Operations and Adjustments......................... 10

• Harness Straps

• Harness Tie

• Overhead Shield Adjustment

• Buckle

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

No car seat can guarantee protection from
injury in every situation, but proper use helps
reduce the risk of serious injury or death.

Child restraints (car seats) could be recalled for
safety reasons. You must register this restraint
to be reached in a recall. Fill out the
registration card attached to car seat and mail
today or send your name, address, and the
restraint’s model number and manufacturing
date to:

Century Products
P.O. Box 551
Elverson, PA 19520-9973

or call 1-888-224-6549

For recall information:

• Call the U.S Government’s Auto Safety
Hotline at 1-800-424-9393
(202-366-0123 in D.C. area)

• www.nhtsa.dot.gov

• Call Century Products at 1-800-837-4044

✔ Read and understand instruction manual

and car seat labels.

✔ Infants less than 20 lbs. (9.1 kg) must use

car seat rear-facing.

✔ Do not use car seat rear-facing in vehicle seat

with air bag.

✔ Secure children in back seat whenever

possible.

✔ Never leave child unattended.
✔ Install car seat securely.
✔ Do not use after date shown on back of

car seat.

✔ Do not allow anyone (babysitter, relatives,

etc.) to use car seat without first
understanding all instructions.

1

❃

Registration Information

❃

Safety First Check List

WARNINGS - Prevent serious injur y or death:

DO NOT use rear-facing child
restraint in a vehicle seating
position equipped with an air bag.
Child’s head and neck may be
seriously injured when an inflating
air bag hits back of child restraint.

Never put a car seat in a front
vehicle seat unless recommended by
vehicle owner’s manual. National
Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) alerts
vehicle owners that according to
accident statistics, children up to
age 12 are safer in the back seat.
For vehicles with air bags, refer to
vehicle owner’s manual for child
restraint installation information.

If car seat is in a crash, it must be
replaced. DO NOT use it again! A
crash can cause unseen damage and
using it again could result in serious
injury or death.

Failure to follow these instructions
and car seat labels can result in child
striking the vehicle’s interior during
a sudden stop or accident. Secure
child restraint with a vehicle seat
belt as shown in this manual.

Infants less than 20 lbs. (9.1 kg)
must use this car seat rear-facing.
Serious crippling injury or death can
result if infant faces front of vehicle.

Vehicle seat belt system MUST hold
car seat securely. Not all vehicle seat
belts can be used with a car seat. If
vehicle seat belt does not hold car
seat securely, read “Vehicle Seat
Belts” section.

2

3

DO NOT use car seat if it is damaged
or has missing parts.

DO NOT use accessories or parts
other than those provided by
Century or Graco. Their use could
alter the performance of the
car seat.

Rear-facing car seat must be

properly leveled:

• Too reclined can result in injury
or ejection.

• Too upright can result in
breathing difficulties.

Never leave child unattended, even
when sleeping. Child may become
tangled in harness straps and
suffocate.

WARNINGS - Prevent serious injur y or death (continued):

BASIC INFORMATION

This car seat meets or exceeds all applicable
requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213 for use in motor vehicles and
aircraft.

Always secure car seat with a vehicle seat belt,
even when unoccupied. An unsecured car seat
can injure passengers.

Protect vehicle seat. Use a car seat mat, towel
or thin blanket under and behind car seat.

Car seat parts can get very hot in the sun or
warm weather.

To avoid burns, always check before putting
child in car seat.

4

Do not use car seat on rear-facing or
side-facing vehicle seats.

❃

Certification

❃

Unoccupied Car Seat

DO NOT use after date shown on back of
car seat due to changing requirements and
normal wear and tear.

Look for:

Do not use this car
seat after December

Year

❃

Car Seat Useful Life

❃

Dangerous Vehicle Seats

❃

Vehicle Seat Protection

❃

Warm Weather

Rear-facing: Birth to 30 lbs. (13.6 kg)

• Infants from birth to 20 lbs. (9.1 kg) MUST
be rear-facing.

• Infants or toddlers 20 to 30 lbs. (9.1 to

13.6 kg) may be rear-facing.

HEIGHT & WEIGHT LIMITS

A preterm infant or low birth weight infant may
be at special risk in a vehicle or aircraft.

According to the American Academy of
Pediatrics, these infants may suffer breathing
difficulties if improperly reclined in a car seat.

Century advises that you have your physician or
hospital staff evaluate your infant and
recommend the proper car seat or car bed
before you and your infant leave the hospital.

5

❃

Preterm or Low Birth Weight
Infants

Forward-facing

Forward-facing: 20 to 40 lbs. (9.1 to 18.1 kg)

• Toddlers 20 to 30 lbs. (9.1 to 13.6 kg) who
are capable of sitting upright unassisted
may be forward-facing

*

. If unable to sit

unassisted, use rear-facing.

• Toddlers 30 to 40 lbs. (13.6 to 18.1 kg)
and up to 40 inches (101.6 cm) tall MUST
be forward-facing.

❃

Outgrowing Car Seat

Rear-facing

40 lbs.

(18.1 kg)

Birth

30 lbs.

(13.6 kg)

20 lbs.

(9.1 kg)

To avoid injuries from whiplash, top of
child’s ears must be below top edge of
car seat.

WARNING

IMPORTANT: The Ovation/Encore car seat has
been certified for use rear-facing with children
up to 30 lbs. (13.6 kg). However, some
children approaching 30 lbs. (13.6 kg) may be
too tall to fit comfortably rear-facing. When
child can no longer comfortably fit and knees
remain bent, child should use car seat
forward-facing only if child is over 20 lbs.
(9.1 kg) and can sit upright unassisted *.

*

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends
that children should be at least one year of age
before being positioned forward facing.

Adjust car seat to recline position and place

rear-facing on vehicle seat. DO NOT use

any other position when using rear-facing.

Thread vehicle seat belt through openings and
buckle belt.

Press down firmly in center of car seat to
compress vehicle seat cushion while tightening
vehicle seat belt (fig. a).

Pull front to back and left to right to check for
secure installation (fig. b). Vehicle lap belt
MUST stay tight.

If not secure, see “Vehicle Seat Belts” section.

Check level indicator on car seat.
Ball MUST be entirely in green zone (fig. c). If

necessary place rolled towels under front of
car seat at vehicle seat crease.

NOTE: Vehicle must be on level
ground and child in car seat
when using level indicator.

REAR-FACING INSTALLATION

1

3

4

5

2

6

(fig. a) (fig. b) (fig. c)

Openings

Towels

Adjust car seat to upright or semi-upright position
and place forward-facing on vehicle seat.

Lift seat pad flap and panel.
Thread vehicle seat belt through openings, behind

panel and buckle belt (fig. a).
Press down firmly in center of car seat to compress

vehicle seat cushion while tightening vehicle seat
belt.

HINT: Use your knee to press down in center of
car seat (fig. b).

Pull front to back and left to right to check for
secure installation (fig. c). Vehicle lap belt

MUST stay tight.
If not secure, see “Vehicle Seat Belts” section.

Attach tether strap clip (A) to anchor hardware (B)
and tighten strap to remove any slack (fig. d).

If tether anchor is not available, see “Installation of
Anchor Hardware“ section.

FORWARD-FACING INSTALLATION

1

2

3

4

7

5

(fig. a) (fig. b) (fig. c)

Openings

(fig. d)

(B)

(A)

Pull to

tighten