Back Massage Cushions Recalled by Conair & Sears Roebuck
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 4, 1998
Release # 98-103
Company Phone Number: (800) 456-5010 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Mark Ross, (301) 504-7076
CPSC, Conair Corp. and Sears Roebuck and Co. Announce Recall
of Back Massage Cushions
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission (CPSC), Conair Corp., of Stamford, Conn., and
Sears Roebuck and Co., of Hoffman Estates, Ill., are recalling
about 183,000 back massage cushions. The motors used in these
back massage cushions can stall, overheat and possibly burn
through the massage cushion.
While there have been no reports of fires or serious injury,
CPSC, Conair and Sears have received 13 reports of damage to
upholstered furniture and bedding, and two reports of minor burns
to consumers.
The massage cushion, identified as the Sears Health
Essentials Back Massaging System with Heat, Model SR4503, is a
black, padded cushion approximately 21 inches long and 17 inches
wide, and comes with a handheld controller. The handheld
controller displays the words, "Health Essentials" on the front
panel and the words "Sears SR4503" on the back panel.
The back massage cushion, manufactured by Conair, was sold
in Sears stores and catalogs from February 1997 through March
1998 for about $30.
Consumers should stop using the back massage cushions
immediately and return them to any Sears department store for a
full refund. For more information, consumers can call
(800) 456-5010 anytime.