"Kensington Bear," Model S7417
CPSC Recall #89-087 - September 18, 1989
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 89-087 |
| Recall Date | September 18, 1989 |
| Remedy Type | Refund, Repair |
| Units Affected | Approximately 1,800 |
Product
"Kensington Bear," Model S7417
Description
WASHINGTON, DC. -- Heartline, a division of Graphics International, Inc., Kansas City, MO is recalling the "Kensington Bear," Model S7417. The 14-inch stuffed bear, sold in gift and other specialty stores, may pose a potential choking hazard for children under age three because of heart-shaped buttons which may detach from the bear's dress. There have been no reports of injury. The brown bear, part of the Kensington Bear collection, is wearing a maroon print dress with white lace bloomers and a straw hat with a pink bow. Three heart-shaped buttons are sewn on the front of the bear's dress. Pink and blue ribbon also trims the bottom of the dress. There is no stock number attached to the bear. The hang tag attached to the product reads "The Kensington Bears". If consumers wish to keep the bear, they can eliminate the potential hazard by removing and disposing of the buttons. Consumers who want to return the bear to Heartline for a full refund may call toll-free 1-800-821-7200 to receive a return mailing label or request additional information about this recall. Approximately 1,800 bears have been sold to retailers Nationwide since January 1988.
Hazard
The bear may pose a potential choking hazard for children under age three because of heart-shaped buttons which may detach from the bear's dress.
Incidents & Injuries
There have been no reports of injury.
Remedy Instructions
If consumers wish to keep the bear, they can eliminate the potential hazard by removing and disposing of the buttons. Consumers who want to return the bear to Heartline for a full refund may call toll-free 1-800-821-7200 to receive a return mailing label or request additional information about this recall.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund, 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 (Refund, Repair) 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.