Children's Folding Chairs

CPSC Recall #05-233 — July 26, 2005

Recall Summary

Recall Number05-233
Recall DateJuly 26, 2005
Remedy TypeReplace, Repair
Units AffectedAbout 1.1 million
ManufacturerIdea Nuova Inc., of New York, N.Y.
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

Discount department and toy stores nationwide from September 2004 through June 2005 for between $15 and $25 per set.

Product

Children's Folding Chairs

Description

The recalled children's folding chairs are made of metal tubing with a vinyl padded seat and seat back. They were sold with the following designs: "Monkey Moods" a monkey with stars, "Rock n Roll" with a monkey playing a guitar, "Princess" with pink flowers and a crown, "Sport" with a football, basketball and soccer ball, "Training Camp" with frogs, "Rainbow Angel" with clouds, rainbows and stars, Spiderman®, and Disney® Princess. The recalled chairs were sold as part of a set consisting of a table and two chairs. Each chair is about 22-inches high, 13 inches wide, and about 11 inches deep. "Idea Nuova Inc." or "I.N.I." is printed on a label located underneath the seat of the chairs.

Hazard

The chair's safety lock can fail, allowing the chair to collapse or fold unexpectedly. Children's fingers can become caught or entrapped in the hinge and slot areas of the chair, posing a pinch or cut hazard. This can cause severe lacerations and fingertip amputations to children's fingers.

Incidents & Injuries

CPSC and Idea Nuova are aware of five incidents involving children. In one incident, there was a fingertip amputation, the second incident involved a fingertip amputation and a laceration, and the third incident involved a finger fracture and a laceration. There were no injuries reported in the other two incidents.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using these chairs immediately and contact Idea Nuova for instructions on how to receive a free repair kit to replace the locking pin.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace, Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Replace, Repair) at no cost to you.

Furniture tip-overs are a leading cause of pediatric injuries in the U.S., particularly dressers, bookcases, and television stands. CPSC data shows that a child dies approximately every two weeks from a furniture or TV tip-over. Unstable high chairs, baby swings, and bouncers are also frequent recall subjects due to fall risks. ASTM International standards now require that certain furniture must meet tip-over resistance standards, and CPSC has been actively pursuing mandatory requirements for dressers and chests. If you have furniture that was not recalled but feels unstable, wall-anchoring kits are widely available at hardware stores.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.