December 15, 2009 – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, and PBteen division of Williams-Sonoma Inc. of San Francisco, Calif., today announced a voluntary recall of Roman Shades and Paxton Roller Shades.
This recall involves all sizes and colors of Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, and PBteen Roman shades with and without fabric backing and the Paxton roller shades.
The Roman shades have two labels; “Pottery Barn”, “potterybarnkids” or “PBteen” is printed on the smaller label and the larger orange, black and white label warns that “Cords and bead chains can loop around child’s neck and STRANGLE.”
The Paxton roller shades are made of solid fabric and have a metal rod at the bottom and a nylon operating cord.
Strangulation by Roman Shades can occur when a child places his/her neck between the exposed inner cord and the fabric on the backside of the shade or when a child pulls the cord out and wraps it around his/her neck.
Strangulation by Roller Shades can occur if the shade’s looped cord is not attached to the wall with the tension device provided and a child’s neck becomes entangled in the free-standing loop.
In June 2009, a three-year-old boy became entangled in the inner cord of a Roman shade while standing on his bed looking out of the window. The fabric liner covering the inner cords had detached exposing the inner cords. The child has recovered from the thin laceration around his neck.
There have been no reports of injuries from Roller Shades.
This recall expands a previous recall of Roman Shades sold at Pottery Barn Kids.
Approximately 305,000 Roman shades and 45,000 roller shades (about 85,000 Roman shades were recalled on August 26, 2009) have been sold. The Roman shades were sold exclusively through Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, and PBteen catalogs and online at www.potterybarn.com, www.potterybarnkids.com and www.pbteen.com from January 1998 through October 2009 for between $25 and $180. The Paxton roller shades were sold through the Pottery Barn catalog and online at www.potterybarn.com from January 2003 through October 2009 for between $100 and $120.
Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product, contact the Defective Product lawyers of the Gomez Law Firm today.