Crib Soft Playground
CPSC Recall #87-065 - October 26, 1987
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 87-065 |
| Recall Date | October 26, 1987 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | Approximately 110,000 |
Product
Crib Soft Playground
Description
WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Shelcore, Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey is voluntarily offering consumers a free replacement for their Crib Soft Playground, an activity center for use in cribs and playpens, which presents a potential strangulation hazard.The Commission and the firm are aware of the recent fatal strangulation of a 14 month old Minnesota boy who inserted his head between a loosely tied toy and the mesh on a playpen.The toy is meant to be attached to the sides of a solid structure crib or playpen by string at each of its four corners. The instructions do not advise consumers about proper string tightness or against use in a mesh-sided crib or mesh-sided playpen. When strings are not tied tightly or become loosened with use, the string between the toy and the crib may present a potential strangulation hazard if a child were to become entrapped between the toy and the crib or playpen side.The recalled activity centers measure about 11-1/2 by 14 inches. One version of the product labeled "SHELCORE CRIB SOFT Playground" was sold by a number of retailers since 1982. The other version was labeled "Winnie-the-Pooh Crib Soft Playground" and was sold by Sears, Roebuck and Co., during 1982 and 1983. Some of the activity centers were sold as part of a three-piece crib toy set (see attached sketch).Approximately 110,000 of these Crib Soft Playgrounds were imported from Taiwan and sold by retailers nationwide and in Canada. The product retails for about $9.50. Consumers should stop using the activity centers immediately and remove them from cribs and playpens. Shelcore, Inc., has redesigned the activity center using velcro straps to secure the product close to the wooden crib or wooden playpen side and to prevent attachment to a mesh-sided crib or mesh-sided playpen. To obtain the new activity center free of charge, consumers should mail their old activity center, along with their name, address and telephone number, to Shelcore, Inc., 3474 S. Clinton Ave., S. Plainfield, N.J. 07080. Postage costs will be reimbursed by the firm.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
When strings are not tied tightly or become loosened with use, the string between the toy and the crib may present a potential strangulation hazard if a child were to become entrapped between the toy and the crib or playpen side.
Incidents & Injuries
The Commission and the firm are aware of the recent fatal strangulation of a 14 month old Minnesota boy who inserted his head between a loosely tied toy and the mesh on a playpen.
Remedy Instructions
Shelcore, Inc., has redesigned the activity center using velcro straps to secure the product close to the wooden crib or wooden playpen side and to prevent attachment to a mesh-sided crib or mesh-sided playpen. To obtain the new activity center free of charge, consumers should mail their old activity center, along with their name, address and telephone number, to Shelcore, Inc., 3474 S. Clinton Ave., S. Plainfield, N.J. 07080. Postage costs will be reimbursed by the firm.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace 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 (Replace) 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.