The revolving pitching arm which has no guard retains sufficient energy to "pitch" even though the machines are unplugged or disconnected. This creates the potential for severe bodily injury which the machines present.
About 5,000
The Commission is asking consumers who have access to or know the location of a machine to call the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's toll-free hotline 800/638-2772.
Detalles del retiro
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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July 21, 1977 |
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Release # 77-078 |
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 21) -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today issued an urgent warning to purchasers and users of certain automatic baseball pitching machines of the potential for severe bodily injury which the machines present. The machines are labeled as follows: "Blazer (Champ)," the "Professional," "Range, " "Pro-Trainer (Olympia)," and/or the "Dudley Automatic Pitching Machine." They were manufactured by Commercial Mechanisms, Inc., of Spring Park, Minnesota, and Kansas City, Missouri.
The Commission has two reports of permanent and severe brain damage resulting from these machines. There are about 18 other injuries including brain concussions, severe lacerations and severe facial disfigurement.
The Commission has authorized its staff to prepare the necessary papers for filing a complaint in U.S. District Court seeking recall of the machines and a declaration that they are an imminent hazard.
About 5,000 of these machines have been distributed throughout the United States to schools, colleges, clubs, recreation departments, and other athletic organizations. They were manufactured from 1963 to 1975.
The Commission is asking consumers who have access to or know the location of a machine to call tie U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's toll-free hotline 800/638-2772.
The pitching machines have rotary pitching arms propelled by a gasoline engine or electric motor which powers a gear, pulley and tension spring mechanism.
The revolving pitching arm which has no guard retains sufficient energy to "pitch" even though the machines are unplugged or disconnected. This energy can release the pitching arm after only slight vibration of the machine. The downward rotation of the pitching arm at high velocity has resulted in serious injuries to persons in its path. The pitching arm may also separate from the machine during operation, becoming an uncontrolled and potentially lethal missile. The machines may also fire pitches erratically in unintended directions.
Consumers are alerted to follow these important safety precautions:
1 - Avoid placing any portion of the body within the arc or path through which the pitching arm revolves, unless the machine is disconnected from its power source and the coil spring is disengaged from the spring holder.
2 - Disengage the coil spring from the spring holder after use, and lock the machine in a location that will restrict unauthorized or unsupervised access.
3 - If the machine must be moved, disconnect the machine from its power source and disengage the coil spring from the spring holder before moving.
4 - Never store the pitching machine with the pitching arm in the 10:00 o'clock position.
An Example of A Pitching Machine With An Unguarded Arm
(Blazer "Little Champ" Model)
Guardless
Nota: Puede haber declaraciones individuales de los comisionados sobre este tema. Para buscar las declaraciones (en inglés) sobre este u otros temas visite www.cpsc.gov/commissioners.
La Comisión de Seguridad de Productos del Consumidor de EE.UU. (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, CPSC) se encarga de proteger al público contra riesgos irrazonables de lesión o muerte asociados al uso de miles de tipos de productos del consumidor. Muertes, lesiones y daños a la propiedad debido a incidentes con productos del consumidor le cuestan al país más de $1 billón de dólares al año. La labor de la CPSC ha contribuido a una disminución en el índice de lesiones asociadas a los productos del consumidor en los últimos 50 años.
La ley federal prohíbe a cualquier persona vender productos sujetos a un retiro del mercado ordenado por la Comisión o a un retiro del mercado llevado a cabo en consulta con la CPSC.
- Visite www.SeguridadConsumidor.gov.
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- Llame a la línea de información al 800-638-2772 (teletipo 301-595-7054).
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- Contacto para los medios de comunicación.