"L"-Shaped Quick-Clear Valve Adapters used with Mosquito Magnet® Insect Traps
CPSC Recall #06-062 — January 10, 2006
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 06-062 |
| Recall Date | January 10, 2006 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | About 335,500 |
| Manufacturer | American Biophysics Corp., of North Kingstown, R.I. |
| Manufactured In | United States |
Where It Was Sold
| Home centers |
| hardware stores |
| and industrial suppliers nationwide |
| as well as online and catalog retailers |
| provided the "L"-shaped Quick-Clear Valve Adapter as an accessory with Mosquito Magnet® insect trap products manufactured from October 2002 through November 2003. The adapters were sold separately for about $8. |
Product
"L"-Shaped Quick-Clear Valve Adapters used with Mosquito Magnet® Insect Traps
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), American Biophysics Corp., of North Kingstown, R.I., is voluntarily recalling about 335,500 "L"-Shaped Quick-Clear Valve Adapters used with Mosquito Magnet Insect Traps. The maintenance accessory is an "L"-shaped, Quick-Clear Valve Adapter that can leak or break apart during use, possibly striking and injuring nearby persons or releasing pressurized carbon dioxide (CO2) that can freeze exposed skin.Name of Product: "L"-Shaped Quick-Clear Valve Adapters used with Mosquito Magnet® Insect TrapsUnits: About 335,500Manufacturer: American Biophysics Corp., of North Kingstown, R.I.Hazard: The maintenance accessory is an "L"-shaped, Quick-Clear Valve Adapter that can leak or break apart during use, possibly striking and injuring nearby persons or releasing pressurized carbon dioxide (CO2) that can freeze exposed skin.Incidents/Injuries: American Biophysics has received 11 reports of persons struck by broken adapters and three reports of minor skin irritations caused by the CO2 gas.Description: The recall involves a maintenance accessory used to clear obstructions in the fuel delivery system of certain Mosquito Magnet® insect traps. The Quick-Clear Valve Adapter is a black and gold, "L"-shaped, brass and plastic device. The adapter was included as a maintenance accessory to clean fuel lines in newly manufactured and retrofitted Mosquito Magnet® insect traps sold only under the following Mosquito Magnet® model names: Defender, Liberty, Freedom and Commercial Pro. Only "L"-shaped adapters are affected by this recall. Mosquito Magnet® products made since November 2003 contain only straight adapters that do not need to be replaced. Adapters for Mosquito Magnet® traps that use rechargeable batteries are not affected by this recall.Sold at: Home centers, hardware stores, and industrial suppliers nationwide, as well as online and catalog retailers, provided the "L"-shaped Quick-Clear Valve Adapter as an accessory with Mosquito Magnet® insect trap products manufactured from October 2002 through November 2003. The adapters were sold separately for about $8.Manufactured in: United StatesRemedy: Consumers should not use the recalled "L"-shaped Quick-Clear Adapter on the Mosquito Magnet insect trap. Contact the firm to receive a free replacement adapter.Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact American Biophysics Corp. toll-free at (877) 699-8727 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit their Web site at www.mosquitomagnet.com.Press Contact: Betsy Kosheff, 413-232-7057, [email protected].
Hazard
The maintenance accessory is an "L"-shaped, Quick-Clear Valve Adapter that can leak or break apart during use, possibly striking and injuring nearby persons or releasing pressurized carbon dioxide (CO2) that can freeze exposed skin.
Incidents & Injuries
American Biophysics has received 11 reports of persons struck by broken adapters and three reports of minor skin irritations caused by the CO2 gas.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should not use the recalled "L"-shaped Quick-Clear Adapter on the Mosquito Magnet insect trap. Contact the firm to receive a free replacement adapter.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Replace) at no cost to you.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.