Decorator Cube

CPSC Recall #91054 — March 26, 1991

Recall Summary

Recall Number91054
Recall DateMarch 26, 1991
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedApproximately 2.2 million

Product

Decorator Cube

Description

WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, (CPSC), Seward Luggage Company of Petersburg, VA; Trojan Luggage of Memphis, TN; and Mercury Luggage Manufacturing Co. of Jacksonville, FL, today, issued a warning about a strangulation and suffocation hazard when decorator cubes with hinged lids manufactured prior to June 30, 1990 are used to store toys or children's belongings. These cubes, distributed nationwide during the past 2 1/2 years, are 16" X 16" X 16" cubed-shaped trunks with hinged lids decorated with various scenes and motifs. Decorator cubes manufactured after June 30, 1990 have removable lids. The decorator cubes may be appropriately used for storage and as a home furnishing. The cubes may present a strangulation hazard if the lid falls on the neck of a young child who is reaching into the trunk for a toy or other item. CPSC believes young children under the age of six years are at the greatest risk of injury. It was reported that a 14-month-old child died when a cube's lid allegedly fell on him. In addition, a young child could climb into a cube, become trapped inside and suffocate if the lid shuts. Approximately 2.2 million cubes have been distributed nationally by the three firms between 1987 and June 30, 1990. To prevent the possibility of strangulation or suffocation: Owners should remove the metal pin (used to hold the hinge together) from each of the two hinges, thereby making the lid removable. Owners of cubes who choose not to remove lids will be supplied with lid spacer clamps that will prevent the lid from slamming shut and a warning label to remind users of the potential hazards. Consumers should call 1-800-766-9417 to obtain free, easily installed spacer clamps, a warning label and further information if necessary, on the removal of the hinge pin. However, one of the firms, Seward Luggage Company, is out of business, so if the spacer clamps cannot be obtained for that firm's product, either remove the metal pin as described above, or discard or destroy the product.

Hazard

The cubes may present a strangulation hazard if the lid falls on the neck of a young child who is reaching into the trunk for a toy or other item. CPSC believes young children under the age of six years are at the greatest risk of injury.

Incidents & Injuries

It was reported that a 14-month-old child died when a cube's lid allegedly fell on him.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers can call in to obtain free, easily installed spacer clamps, a warning label and further information if necessary, on the removal of the hinge pin. However, one of the firms, Seward Luggage Company, is out of business, so if the spacer clamps cannot be obtained for that firm's product, either remove the metal pin as described above, or discard or destroy the product.

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.

Furniture tip-overs are a leading cause of pediatric injuries in the U.S., particularly dressers, bookcases, and television stands. CPSC data shows that a child dies approximately every two weeks from a furniture or TV tip-over. Unstable high chairs, baby swings, and bouncers are also frequent recall subjects due to fall risks. ASTM International standards now require that certain furniture must meet tip-over resistance standards, and CPSC has been actively pursuing mandatory requirements for dressers and chests. If you have furniture that was not recalled but feels unstable, wall-anchoring kits are widely available at hardware stores.

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.