Folding Chairs

CPSC Recall #92-056 — March 8, 1992

Recall Summary

Recall Number92-056
Recall DateMarch 8, 1992
Remedy TypeReplace
Units Affected268,000

Product

Folding Chairs

Description

WASHINGTON, DC -- Alston Quality Industries, Inc., Linden, NJ, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is voluntarily offering to replace certain folding metal chairs that have the potential to collapse. The chairs were manufactured by MOBILSEDIA, SRL an Italian manufacturer, and approximately 268,000 were distributed through certain retail stores from 1985 to 1988. Alston voluntarily reported the potential consumer safety problem to CPSC after it received a number of customer complaints that in some instances the seats or backs cracked, or the hinge mechanism of the chair did not work as expected. Customers claimed various injuries ranging from bruises to back or knee injuries. The product being voluntarily replaced is a metal frame folding chair with plastic or fabric upholstered seats and backs. The key identifying feature is a black plastic plug hinge on the tubular metal frame. Alston is offering replacement model chairs to consumers who now have the MOBILSEDIA, SRL chairs being voluntarily replaced. Consumers should return the chairs to the place of purchase to receive replacement models. Consumers are urged to make sure their folding chairs are the MOBILSEDIA, SRL chairs from Alston. Use the accompanying illustrations and ask these questions to help identify the chairs eligible for replacement under the VOLUNTARY REPLACEMENT PROGRAM: - Is the hinge a black plastic plug with a rounded top, not a metal hinge or a ball-like metal hinge? - Does (or did) the MOBILSEDIA logo, a prominent stylized castle, appear on the box the chairs came in? - If it is a lucite chair, is the frame chrome or brass? Are the back and seat smooth, without a circular or semi- circular imprint? - If it is an upholstered chair, is the frame chrome? Are the seat and back either beige, gray, or black fabric? Consumers may direct their questions to Alston's Product Information Coordinator, Yvette, at (908) 925-2000 or write to Alston Quality Industries, Inc., 1200 Fuller Road, Linden, NJ 07036. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is announcing this voluntary replacement program as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury from the 15,000 different types of products under its jurisdiction.

Hazard

Alston voluntarily reported the potential consumer safety problem to CPSC after it received a number of customer complaints that in some instances the seats or backs cracked, or the hinge mechanism of the chair did not work as expected.

Incidents & Injuries

Customers claimed various injuries ranging from bruises to back or knee injuries.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers are urged to make sure their folding chairs are the MOBILSEDIA, SRL chairs from Alston. Use the accompanying illustrations and ask these questions to help identify the chairs eligible for replacement under the VOLUNTARY REPLACEMENT PROGRAM

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.