"Lewis of London" cribs
CPSC Recall #93-092 - July 11, 1993
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 93-092 |
| Recall Date | July 11, 1993 |
| Remedy Type | Inspect, Repair, No Remedy Available |
| Units Affected | Approximately 8,000 |
Product
"Lewis of London" cribs
Description
PRODUCT: Approximately 8,000 "Lewis of London" brand cribs purchased prior to 1990. PROBLEM: Knobs on latch pin assemblies for an unknown percentage of these cribs may be removed using very little force and the knobs may pose a choking or asphyxiation hazard to children under three years of age. The latch pin assembly consists of a small, moveable knob attached to a shaft which, when pulled outward, allows the crib dropside to be lowered. WHAT TO DO: Replace the knob if it comes off or can be unscrewed easily. Consumers should contact the retail store where the crib was purchased, or another baby furniture store, for assistance in getting a knob replacement. Lewis of London is not conducting a recall because the company is in bankruptcy. Most of the retail stores known also as "Lewis of London" are franchisees and are not affiliated with the manufacturer of Lewis of London brand cribs. WASHINGTON DC -- CPSC is warning parents about a potential choking hazard involving the crib latch pin assemblies for all of the approximately 8,000 "Lewis of London" brand cribs purchased prior to 1990. The latch pin assembly consists of a small, moveable knob attached to a shaft which, when pulled outward, allows the crib dropside, or headboard if also moveable, to be lowered. The Commission is recommending replacement of the knob portion of the assembly if it's loose. The knob portion of the assembly on an unknown percentage of the cribs sold nationwide prior to 1990 may be removed using very little force. If removed, such knobs pose a choking hazard to children under 3 years of age. CPSC is aware of instances where toddlers placed these knobs in their mouths. The children either found them loose near the crib or were able to remove them from the cribs themselves. CPSC is not aware of any injuries involving these knobs. This warning and suggested correction is being issued to prevent the possibility of injury. Consumers are urged to inspect all Lewis of London brand crib knobs on cribs purchased before 1990 for looseness. If a knob comes off or can be unscrewed easily, consumers should contact the retail store where the crib was purchased or another baby furniture store for assistance in getting a knob replacement. Lewis of London is not conducting a recall because the company is in bankruptcy. The firm was located in Hauppauge, NY. Most of the retail stores known also as "Lewis of London" were franchisees of the Hauppauge, New York firm of the same name prior to bankruptcy. These retail stores are no longer affiliated with the Lewis of London crib importer. They are independent stores and are not going bankrupt. CPSC is issuing this warning and recommended correction as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to help reduce the estimated 28.6 million injuries and 21,700 deaths that occur each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products within CPSC's jurisdiction.
Hazard
Knobs on latch pin assemblies for an unknown percentage of these cribs may be removed using very little force and the knobs may pose a choking or asphyxiation hazard to children under three years of age. The latch pin assembly consists of a small, moveable knob attached to a shaft which, when pulled outward, allows the crib dropside to be lowered.
Incidents & Injuries
CPSC is not aware of any injuries involving these knobs.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers are urged to inspect all Lewis of London brand crib knobs on cribs purchased before 1990 for looseness. If a knob comes off or can be unscrewed easily, consumers should contact the retail store where the crib was purchased or another baby furniture store for assistance in getting a knob replacement. Lewis of London is not conducting a recall because the company is in bankruptcy.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Inspect, Repair, No Remedy Available 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 (Inspect, Repair, No Remedy Available) at no cost to you.
Federal law prohibits the sale of toys with small parts for children under age 3. CPSC uses a standardized small parts cylinder to test whether pieces from a toy can fit entirely inside, if they can, they are considered a choking hazard. Products marketed for children under 3 must not contain any small parts. Beyond the legal requirements, the CPSC and pediatricians recommend keeping all small objects away from children under 4, as the risk of choking extends beyond the formal legal age threshold.
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.