CPSC, Golden Chair, and Allen Manufacturing Announce Recliner Chair Recall

WASHINGTON, D.C. - CPSC, Golden Chair of Houlka, Miss., and Allen Manufacturing of Benton, Tenn., are announcing the recall of about 142,000 recliner chairs because small children can get trapped or strangle in the recliners.

Children can get their heads caught and possibly strangle in recliners if the space between the chair's seat and foot rest measures more than five inches wide. Since 1990, two children have died and two others nearly strangled when children leaned forward on the leg rest while their heads were caught between the chair seat and leg rest.

Golden Chair Inc. is recalling about 100,000 recliners and Allen Manufacturing is recalling about 42,000 recliners that have a space between the chair seat and leg rest measuring up to 6 inches wide. CPSC is not aware of injuries involving recliners made by Golden Chair or Allen Manufacturing. These companies are conducting this recall to prevent injuries.

The furniture industry's guidelines for recliners, established in 1988 by the American Furniture Manufacturers Association, specify that openings between the upholstered seat and leg rest should measure five inches or less. The recliners involved in this recall do not meet these guidelines.

Golden Chair recliners, which are upholstered in beige, blue, brown, or mauve fabric, can be identified by a label stapled underneath the foot rest. The label identifies the manufacturers as "Golden Chair, Inc." or "Golden Furniture Manufacturing Co." The license number "Lic. No. NY 58770" may also appear on the label. In addition, a serial number is attached to the wood rail visible under the chair when it is in the fully reclined position.

Allen Manufacturing recliners, which are upholstered in fabric and vinyl in an assortment of colors, can be identified by a label, #VA-9300Tn, attached to the bottom of the foot rest.

Furniture stores nationwide sold the Golden Chair recliners from January 1987 to December 1995. Furniture stores nationwide sold the Allen Manufacturing recliners from January 1988 to December 1995.

Consumers who own Golden Chair or Allen Manufacturing recliners should measure the space between the seat and foot rest. If the opening is greater than five inches, consumers should stop using the chair immediately.

Consumers who own Golden Chair recliners should call the company at (800) 965-1277. Consumers who own Allen Manufacturing recliners should call the company at (888) 338-0550. The companies will send a free crossbar to attach between the seat and foot rest, which is designed to reduce the space and prevent injuries to children. Prior to calling the manufacturer, consumers should have measurements of both the width of the opening between the chair seat and foot rest, and the distance between the mechanism that fastens the foot rest to the chair.

Consumers should call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 to report other recliners not part of this recall with spaces greater than 5 inches between the chair seat and foot rest fully extended. Any recliner with large spacing presents an entrapment hazard to children.

The companies will send a free crossbar to attach between the seat and foot rest, which is designed to reduce the space and prevent injuries to children.

Since 1990, two children have died and two others nearly strangled when children leaned forward on the leg rest while their heads were caught between the chair seat and leg rest.