Relaxor, Deep Knead™ Shiatsu back massager
CPSC Recall #98-078 — March 10, 1998
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 98-078 |
| Recall Date | March 10, 1998 |
| Remedy Type | Dispose, No Remedy Available |
| Units Affected | About 15,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| Specialty stores nationwide |
| including The Sharper Image |
| Brookstone and NordicTrack |
| sold the massagers from October 1997 through December 1997 for about $200 to $260. |
Product
Relaxor, Deep Knead™ Shiatsu back massager
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), JB Research Inc., of Bellflower, Calif., had voluntarily recalled about 15,000 back massagers sold under the Relaxor, Deep Knead™ Shiatsu brand name. The motor for the massager's Deep Knead™ mechanism can jam and overheat. This will cause scorching to the foam and fabric on the back of the unit, presenting a potential fire hazard to consumers. JB Research Inc. has received 46 reports of units overheating. No fires or injuries have been reported. To determine if a Relaxor, Deep Knead™ Shiatsu back massager is involved in this recall, check the control wand of the massager. Only massagers that have the words "Deep Knead" on the front of the control wand and the controller model number JDK46H and serial numbers from 000001 to 020000 on the back of the control wand are included in this recall. These massagers come in 2 sizes, a "seat topper" (measuring 46 inches long by 20 inches wide) and a "seat lounger" (measuring 69 1/4 inches long and 20 1/8 inches wide). The massagers are covered in solid black or gray tweed fabric. The word "Relaxor" is imprinted on the front of the unit and elastic straps on the back of the unit attach the massager to a chair. The massager comes with an AC plug-in/auto adapter and the control wand. Specialty stores nationwide, including The Sharper Image, Brookstone and Nordic Track, sold the massagers from October 1997 through December 1997 for about $200 to $260. Consumers should stop using the recalled massagers immediately. Since JB Research Inc. is no longer in business, recalled massagers should be discarded or destroyed to prevent fires and injuries. No other models of Relaxor massagers are involved in this recall.
Hazard
The motor for the massager's Deep Knead™ mechanism can jam and overheat. This will cause scorching to the foam and fabric on the back of the unit, presenting a potential fire hazard to consumers.
Incidents & Injuries
JB Research Inc. has received 46 reports of units overheating. No fires or injuries have been reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using the recalled massagers immediately. Since JB Research Inc. is no longer in business, recalled massagers should be discarded or destroyed to prevent fires and injuries.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Dispose, No Remedy Available 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 (Dispose, No Remedy Available) at no cost to you.
If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident — they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.
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.