Infant Playmats And Stuffed Skunk Toys

CPSC Recall #92-027 - December 4, 1991

Recall Summary

Recall Number92-027
Recall DateDecember 4, 1991
Remedy TypeRefund
Units Affected7,200 Infant's Playmat toys 21,000 Special Skunk stuffed animal toys

Product

Infant Playmats And Stuffed Skunk Toys

Description

WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), House of Lloyd, Inc., Grandview, MO is voluntarily recalling 7,200 Infant's Playmat toys and 21,000 Special Skunk stuffed animal toys. When CPSC tested the toys in accordance with regulations under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, the rattle included with the Infant's Playmat broke in half, the nose on the face of the Skunk and the clear plastic suction cups attached to the legs of the Skunk separated posing a potential choking or aspiration hazard for young children. The Infant's Playmat (catalog number 3182/stock number 130189) is 32 inches wide and 36 inches long. The Playmat has a tan furry bear's face with black button eyes, a hard plastic black nose, one striped cloth ear and one dotted cloth ear with both ears trimmed in tan fur, a striped bow at the neck of the bear, a quilt stomach and four stuffed tan paws. Included with the Playmat is a rattle, a teething toy and a mirror that can be attached to one of the three paws with velcro fasteners. The fourth paw contains a squeeze toy and an applique of a house sewn on the front of the paw that has the message "TOUCH me." The label attached to the Infant's Playmat reads in part: "House of Lloyd, Inc., Stock No 130189, Infant's Play Mat, Made in Korea, House of Lloyd 1988." The Infant's Playmat imported by House of Lloyd was sold nationwide at home demonstration parties from May 1989 through December 1989 for $34.90 each. The Special Skunk stuffed animal (catalog number 4155/stock number 510052) is black and white and is seven and one-half inches high and three and one-half inches wide. The arms and legs have suction cups attached to them. The skunk also has a tail that is curled up its back and sewn to the body. The skunk's face has plastic eyes and a hard plastic nose and a message on the stomach that says GOD MADE ME SPECIAL. The label attached to the skunk reads in part: "House of Lloyd, Stock No. 510052, Special Skunk, Made in China . . ." The Special Skunk imported by House of Lloyd was sold nationwide at home demonstration parties from May 1989 through December 1989 for $11.90 each. Consumers are urged to take the toys away from young children immediately and return them for a full refund to: House of Lloyd, Inc., Attn: Merchandise Recall, 601 S. 291 Hwy., 5555 W. GeoSpace Dr., Independence, MO 64056. For more information about this recall, consumers may contact House of Lloyd, Inc. at (816) 966-2277. Neither the CPSC nor the company is aware of any injuries involving these toys. This voluntary recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury. The potentially hazardous toys were identified at the Port of Kansas, Kansas City, MO, during a joint CPSC/U.S. Customs surveillance program and upon inspection of the firm. The CPSC is announcing this recall as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to reduce the estimated 28.5 million injuries and 21,600 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under CPSC's jurisdiction.

Hazard

When CPSC tested the toys in accordance with regulations under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, the rattle included with the Infant's Playmat broke in half, the nose on the face of the Skunk and the clear plastic suction cups attached to the legs of the Skunk separated posing a potential choking or aspiration hazard for young children.

Incidents & Injuries

Neither the CPSC nor the company is aware of any injuries involving these toys. This voluntary recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers are urged to take the toys away from young children immediately and return them for a full refund to: House of Lloyd, Inc., Attn: Merchandise Recall, 601 S. 291 Hwy., 5555 W. GeoSpace Dr., Independence, MO 64056.

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.