Expandable wooden accordion style enclosures
CPSC Recall #88-117 - December 27, 1988
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 88-117 |
| Recall Date | December 27, 1988 |
| Remedy Type | No Remedy Available |
Product
Expandable wooden accordion style enclosures
Description
WASHINGTON -- Another infant strangulation in Pennsylvania involving an expandable wooden enclosure has prompted the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to issue a second recall notice for old accordion style enclosures which have been involved in at least seventeen incidents resulting in four deaths. Noting that many thousands of the enclosures have not been returned to manufacturers and are still being used, CPSC said, consumers should immediately remove, collapse and store enclosures pending return of the product. First announced in May 1986 as part of a consent agreement between CPSC and six manufacturers, the recalled enclosures were manufactured by Memline Corporation (under the name-Nu-Line Industries); WBI, Inc., (formerly Worldsbest Industries, Inc.); Paris Manufacturing Corporation; North States Industries; Mapes Industries, Inc.; and Creative Playthings (enclosures were last sold by the firm in 1974 and is not affiliated with Creative Playthings, Ltd., of Framingham, Massachusetts). CPSC said toddlers between 10 and 24 months of age are at the greatest risk because they can climb on the enclosure, and may slip and catch their head or neck in the V-shaped openings at the top of the enclosure. They may also attempt to crawl through and become entrapped in the diamond-shaped openings in the middle of the enclosure. The angles of the V-shaped openings are narrow enough to entrap the head or neck of a child. For instructions on returning the enclosures, consumers should call Nu-Line Industries toll-free at 1-800-558-7300; Nu-Line is coordinating the recall for all manufacturers. As an incentive to return the enclosure, consumers will receive a $10 cash refund or a $15 coupon which may be used toward the purchase of any product manufactured by Nu-Line industries, Paris Manufacturing Corporation, or Northstates Industries, Inc.
Hazard
Toddlers between 10 and 24 months of age are at the greatest risk because they can climb on the enclosure, and may slip and catch their head or neck in the V-shaped openings at the top of the enclosure. They may also attempt to crawl through and become entrapped in the diamond-shaped openings in the middle of the enclosure.
Incidents & Injuries
These enclosures have been involved in at least seventeen incidents resulting in four deaths.
Remedy Instructions
As an incentive to return the enclosure, consumers will receive a $10 cash refund or a $15 coupon which may be used toward the purchase of any product manufactured by Nu-Line industries, Paris Manufacturing Corporation, or Northstates Industries, Inc.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a No Remedy Available 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 (No Remedy Available) 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.