Decorator Cubes
CPSC Recall #92-122 - July 29, 1992
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 92-122 |
| Recall Date | July 29, 1992 |
| Remedy Type | Repair |
| Units Affected | Approximately 4,500 |
Product
Decorator Cubes
Description
PRODUCT: Approximately 2.2 million decorator cubes with hinged lids. PROBLEM: In separate incidents, three children allegedly strangled when the cube's lid fell on their necks. The cubes also pose a suffocation hazard if a young child becomes trapped inside the cube with the lid closed because the cube does not have ventilation holes. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued two previous warnings regarding the decorator cubes and is again alerting the public because approximately 4,500 hinged lid cubes were distributed, inadvertently, by Seward Luggage Company during the recall program. Also, CPSC and Seward Luggage Company are attempting to increase consumer awareness about the potential hazards. These cubes may still be in hands of consumers or in the marketplace at liquidation centers and flea markets. WHAT TO DO: Consumers who have these cubes should call 1-800-766-9417 to obtain a free modification kit. Consumers who see the hinged lid cubes being sold should report the location to the Commission at 1-800-638-2772. BACKGROUND: The decorator cubes with hinged lids were the subject of a corrective action first announced by CPSC on March 27, 1991. The manufacturers of the cubes (Seward Luggage Company, Petersburg, VA; Trojan Luggage, Memphis, TN; and Mercury Luggage Manufacturing Company, Jacksonville, FL) are still attempting to notify consumers of the continued risk so the cubes can be modified. Decorator cubes manufactured after June 1990 have removable lids (no hinges) and are not subject to this warning.
Hazard
The cubes also pose a suffocation hazard if a young child becomes trapped inside the cube with the lid closed because the cube does not have ventilation holes.
Incidents & Injuries
In separate incidents, three children allegedly strangled when the cube's lid fell on their necks.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers who have these cubes should call 1-800-766-9417 to obtain a free modification kit. Consumers who see the hinged lid cubes being sold should report the location to the Commission at 1-800-638-2772.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Repair 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 (Repair) 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.