FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 22, 1998
Release # 98-146
Company Phone Number: (800)
352-0688 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Nychelle Fleming, (301) 504-7063
CPSC, Crate & Barrel Announce Recall to Repair Toy Chests
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Crate & Barrel of
Northbrook, Ill., is recalling about 7,000 toy chests for
in-home repair of their lids. The toy chest's lid support
can fail, allowing the lid to fall onto a child's head or
neck. A child could become entrapped at the neck and
strangle.
CPSC and Crate & Barrel have received two reports of
lids falling. In one instance, a lid fell onto a woman's
head, causing her chin to strike the front edge of the
chest. Through their retail stores, Crate & Barrel has
received about 116 consumer requests for replacement lid
supports.
The Crate & Barrel toy chests also function as benches.
The seat of the bench, which is the toy chest's lid, lifts
up to store toys inside. The toy chests, measuring 29 inches
long, 18 inches wide and 18 inches deep, are made of maple,
birch or beech wood. A 2-inch high railing encompasses the
sides and the back of the chest, along with spindle-type
rails on the sides. These toy chests have either one or two
metal lid supports.
Crate & Barrel stores and catalogues sold the toy
chests nationwide from September 1994 through March 1998 for
about $130.
Consumers should immediately stop young children from
using the toy chests, and call Crate & Barrel at (800)
352-0688 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CDT Monday through
Friday. Crate & Barrel will provide a new lid support, free
of charge, to stop the lid from falling to prevent a child
from being injured or fatally trapped. Consumers can make
this repair easily using a regular screwdriver.