CPSC, KB Gear Announce Recall of Computer Mouse Sets

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and KB Gear are announcing a recall of about 49,000 computer mouse sets for children. The mouse ball can separate from the mouse and pose a choking hazard to young children.

CPSC received a report of a 2-year-old girl who placed the mouse ball in her mouth. Her parents were able to take the ball away from the girl before she was injured.

The Cozy Coupe Computer Mouse was distributed by KB Gear under license from Little Tikes Co., of Hudson, Ohio. KB Gear liquidated and as of Nov. 1, 2001, is no longer in business. As a result, the company is unable to provide consumers with a remedy. To encourage consumers to destroy the computer mouse and as a gesture of goodwill, Little Tikes is offering an equivalent $10 Little Tikes toy to consumers who return the retaining ring from the bottom of the mouse.

The Cozy Coupe Computer Mouse is a fully functional computer mouse, shaped like a toy car. The car is plastic and has a red body and yellow roof. A sticker on the back of the car that is shaped like a license plate says, "Cool Car." The computer mouse set also includes two software packages: "Junior Net," a program that provides children with access to a safe environment for e-mailing and participating in animated games; and "Jump*Start Preschool," a CD with 10 sing and learn songs. Internet retailers, toy, electronics and discount stores nationwide sold these computer mouse sets from September 1999 to August 2001 for between $5 and $20.

Consumers should take the computer mouse away from children immediately and contact Little Tikes at www.littletikes.com or at (800) 321-0183 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday to obtain an equivalent $10 Little Tikes toy.