United Furniture bunk beds

CPSC Recall #87-072 - November 18, 1987

Recall Summary

Recall Number87-072
Recall DateNovember 18, 1987
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedApproximately 20,000

Product

United Furniture bunk beds

Description

WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, United Furniture Manufacturing, Inc., is providing consumers a free safety modification kit for their bunk beds. On United bunk beds sold without cross wires, the mattress and foundation may collapse causing injury or death to a bed occupant or to a child playing under a bed.The Commission is aware of four deaths of children which occurred where the mattress and foundation of bunk beds became dislodged and fell on them. The bunk beds in these incidents were not manufactured by United Furniture. However, bunk beds sold by United Furniture have a mattress support system similar to three of the beds involved in the incidents.United Furniture manufactures three difference models of bunk beds: #500, #600 and #700. On models #600 and #700, the berths can be switched, resulting in either berth being the upper or lower unit. The berths on model #500 can not be separated. The firm's name is found only on the state law tag attached to mattresses. Since many beds are sold without mattresses, see the attached pictures for identification of the bunk beds. Retail prices for the beds range from about $139.00 for the model #500 to about $270.00 for the model #700.Approximately 20,000 bunk beds were manufactured and sold east of the Mississippi since April 1984. Bunk beds sold after February 1985 may have two cross wires on the upper berth only. Two cross wires per each berth are necessary to prevent mattress collapse whether used as a bunk or as two single beds.Consumers should examine their bunk beds. If ledges attached to the bunk bed side rails are the only means of support for the mattress and foundation on either berth, they should call United Furniture collect at 803-879-7373 for a free modification kit.To report an unsafe consumer product or receive safety information, consumers may call the CPSC toll-free hotline number at 800-638-CPSC. A teletypewriter number for the hearing impaired is (800) 638-8270.

Hazard

On United bunk beds sold without cross wires, the mattress and foundation may collapse causing injury or death to a bed occupant or to a child playing under a bed.

Incidents & Injuries

The Commission is aware of four deaths of children which occurred where the mattress and foundation of bunk beds became dislodged and fell on them. The bunk beds in these incidents were not manufactured by United Furniture. However, bunk beds sold by United Furniture have a mattress support system similar to three of the beds involved in the incidents.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should examine their bunk beds. If ledges attached to the bunk bed side rails are the only means of support for the mattress and foundation on either berth, they should call United Furniture collect at 803-879-7373 for a free modification kit.

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.