PlayWell Crayola® Activity Cube
CPSC Recall #04-079 — February 5, 2004
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 04-079 |
| Recall Date | February 5, 2004 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | 11,200 |
| Importer | PlayWell Toy Company, West Orange, New Jersey |
| Manufactured In | China |
Where It Was Sold
| Shopko Stores nationwide from October 2003 through January 2004. |
Product
PlayWell Crayola® Activity Cube
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), PlayWell Toy Company, is voluntarily recalling PlayWell Crayola® Activity Cubes. Small parts can detach from the cube, posing a choking hazard to small children.Name of product: PlayWell Crayola® Activity CubeUnits: 11,200Importer: PlayWell Toy Company, West Orange, New JerseyHazard: Small parts can detach from the cube, posing a choking hazard to small children.Incidents/Injuries: PlayWell has received three reports of small parts detaching, including one report of a child mouthing a piece of the activity cube. No injuries have been reported.Description: The Crayola® activity cube is about 9 inches tall and is made of wood. Each side of the activity cube has a different game, including shape sorting cut-outs and crayon character wheels. The top of the activity cube has crayon characters and beads that slide along a spiral glide. The packaging is labeled "Crayola® Activity Cube" and "Playwell."Sold at: Shopko Stores nationwide from October 2003 through January 2004.Manufactured in: ChinaRemedy: Consumers should take the product away from small children immediately and contact PlayWell for instructions on returning the product for a full refund.Consumer Contact: Call PlayWell Toy Company toll-free at (800) 836-7928 anytime or visit the firm's website at www.regcen.com.
Hazard
Small parts can detach from the cube, posing a choking hazard to small children.
Incidents & Injuries
PlayWell has received three reports of small parts detaching, including one report of a child mouthing a piece of the activity cube. No injuries have been reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should take the product away from small children immediately and contact PlayWell for instructions on returning the product for a full refund.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund 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 (Refund) at no cost to you.
Federal law prohibits the sale of toys with small parts for children under age 3. CPSC uses a standardized small parts cylinder to test whether pieces from a toy can fit entirely inside — if they can, they are considered a choking hazard. Products marketed for children under 3 must not contain any small parts. Beyond the legal requirements, the CPSC and pediatricians recommend keeping all small objects away from children under 4, as the risk of choking extends beyond the formal legal age threshold.
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.