Chaise lounge chairs with nylon ratchets
CPSC Recall #97137 — June 2, 1997
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 97137 |
| Recall Date | June 2, 1997 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | About 53,200 |
Where It Was Sold
| Specialty furniture stores nationwide sold the chaise lounge chairs to consumers from 1985 through 1993 for about $300 to $400. Most chaise lounge chairs were sold to commercial customers including hotels |
| motels |
| resorts |
| clubs |
| and apartment |
| condominium |
| or other home owner associations. |
Product
Chaise lounge chairs with nylon ratchets
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Tropitone Furniture Co. Inc. of Irvine, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 53,200 chaise lounge chairs with nylon ratchets. The nylon ratchets, which control the headrest's height, can break after repeated use, causing the headrest to collapse. Consumers can be injured if they reach behind the headrest to adjust its height and place their fingers between the headrest frame and the chaise bed. If the nylon ratchets are broken, the headrest can forcefully collapse trapping and injuring fingers.Tropitone is aware of more than 100 reports of the headrest collapsing, resulting in finger injuries including pinches, lacerations, fractures, separations, and amputations of fingertips. One neck and back injury was also reported.The chaise lounge chairs involved in this recall are marketed under the following model names and numbers.ModelNameModelNo.DateManufacturedDimensions(width x length x height)TropiKai935935HYA1985-19911991-April 199224" x 77.5" x 41.5"Verrazano43321987-199227.5" x 78.5" x 39.75"Cotillion40321986-198729" x 81.75" x 42"Cayman59321989-April 199227.5" x 80" x 44"Colony49321987-199129.75" x 80" x 42"Seychelle44321986-April 199225" x 79" x 40"The chaise lounge chairs have an aluminum frame with vinyl straps covering the frame. The frame and straps are available in a variety of colors. "Tropitone" and the manufacturing date are printed on a label on the underside of the chaise lounge chair. There are no other identification marks on the chaise lounge chair.Specialty furniture stores nationwide sold the chaise lounge chairs to consumers from 1985 through 1993 for about $300 to $400. Most chaise lounge chairs were sold to commercial customers including hotels, motels, resorts, clubs, and apartment, condominium, or other home owner associations.Consumers should stop using the Tropitone chaise lounge chairs with the nylon ratchet assemblies immediately and contact Tropitone at (800) 654-7000, extension 4099 for information about receiving a new chaise lounge chair. Commercial customers should call the toll-free number or contact their sales representatives for applicable recall information.Tropitone chaise lounge chairs with aluminum ratchets are not involved in this recall.
Hazard
The nylon ratchets, which control the headrest's height, can break after repeated use, causing the headrest to collapse. Consumers can be injured if they reach behind the headrest to adjust its height and place their fingers between the headrest frame and the chaise bed. If the nylon ratchets are broken, the headrest can forcefully collapse trapping and injuring fingers.
Incidents & Injuries
Tropitone is aware of more than 100 reports of the headrest collapsing, resulting in finger injuries including pinches, lacerations, fractures, separations, and amputations of fingertips. One neck and back injury was also reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using the Tropitone chaise lounge chairs with the nylon ratchet assemblies immediately and contact Tropitone at (800) 654-7000, extension 4099 for information about receiving a new chaise lounge chair. Commercial customers should call the toll-free number or contact their sales representatives for applicable recall information.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace 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) at no cost to you.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
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.