NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Devan Designs Furniture Manufacturer To Provide Modification Kits

WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Devan Designs, Inc. of Marion, NC is providing a free modification kit for certain pieces of furniture in its "Rainbow," "Color Plus," and "Perimeter" Collections, marketed under the brand name Lexington Furniture Industries. The drawers of this furniture are equipped with easy gliding rollers which offer minimal resistance when opening. If several drawers of these pieces are opened to their full extension, the furniture can tilt forward, possibly causing serious injury or death.

The CPSC was informed of this potential hazard by Devan Designs, Inc. after the report of a death which occurred when a five-drawer dresser fell on top of a 20-month-old child.

Approximately 4,050 consumers purchased this furniture between December 1989 and June 1991 at furniture stores nationwide. The retail cost of these units ranged from $300 to $550 each.

Devan Designs, Inc. developed one simple modification kit for all pieces which helps prevent the furniture from tilting forward. These minor modifications can be made by consumers in their homes. The modification program covers the following products:

Rainbow #12 and Color Plus #13 Collections

* Discontinued

Perimeter #17 Collection

Consumers should examine their Devan furniture and check the product numbers listed in the furniture's brochure. If you own any of the above listed items, write to: Devan Modification Kit, P.O. Box 969, Marion, NC 28752, or call Devan Designs, Inc. collect at (704) 249-5277. Consumers should specify which pieces of furniture they own, their name and address, and the dealer from which they purchased the furniture. Within two weeks they will receive the free modification kit, which includes drawer catches and leveling glides. Should consumers have any problems making the modifications, consumers should call their nearest Devan dealer who will assist in making the necessary modifications.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is announcing this repair program 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 reduce the estimated 28.5 million injuries and 21,600 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under CPSC's jurisdiction.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from the unreasonable risk of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury and for information on CPSC's fax-on-demand service, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270. To order a press release through fax-on-demand, call (301) 504-0051 from the handset of your fax machine and enter the release number. Consumers can report product hazards to info@cpsc.gov.