Nets of Toy Basketball Sets

CPSC Recall #00-022 - November 30, 1999

Recall Summary

Recall Number00-022
Recall DateNovember 30, 1999
Remedy TypeReplace
Units Affected900,000
ManufacturerFranklin Sports, of Stoughton, Mass., Huffy Sports, of Sussex, Wis., and Lifetime Products, of Clearfield, Utah

Where It Was Sold

Toy
sporting goods
mass merchandise and discount department stores nationwide sold the basketball sets since 1993 for $13 to $40.

Product

Nets of Toy Basketball Sets

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Franklin Sports, Huffy Sports and Lifetime Products are announcing a voluntary recall to replace the nets on 900,000 toy and youth basketball sets. Children could strangle on loops or openings in nets that come unhooked from the rim or have knots that slide. If children put their heads into these openings, the net can get tangled around their necks.Franklin Sports has received one report of a 3-year-old boy getting his head and neck caught in a basketball net. Huffy Sports and Lifetime Products have received no incident reports. No injuries have been reported.In December 1998, Fisher Price, Little Tikes, Ohio Art and Today's Kids recalled 10.1 million toy basketball sets to replace their nets. This recall followed 20 reports of children under 5 getting their heads and necks caught in the nets, including the death of an 18-month-old child.Consumers should immediately inspect their basketball sets for nets that can unhook from the rim or have knots that slide.The basketball sets with nets that need to be replaced come in a variety of colors and include a nylon net and plastic or metal hoop attached to a plastic, youth-sized pole. The pole is set in a plastic base and adjusts from 3 to 6 feet high. Franklin Sports recalled basketball sets are called "Slam Dunk Youth Basketball Set." Huffy Sports recalled basketball sets are called "Youth One-On-One." Lifetime Products recalled basketball sets are called "Shoot Case." The manufacturer's name is on the backboard, base or hoop of each toy. The manufacturers will help consumers determine if the nets need to be replaced.Toy, sporting goods, mass merchandise and discount department stores nationwide sold the basketball sets since 1993 for $13 to $40. Basketball sets sold in stores today, by the participating manufacturers, have nets that are attached securely to the rim and are not involved in this recall. In addition, nets on full-sized portable or in-ground sets over 6 feet high are not recalled.Consumers should remove and throw away nets that can unhook or have knots that slide. Manufacturers will send consumers new nets that securely attach to the rim and do not have sliding knots. The basketball set can be used without a net until the new net arrives. Consumers should not return the product to stores.ManufacturerBrandQuantity/Dates SoldToll-Free Number/Web AddressFranklin Sports Stoughton, Mass.Slam Dunk Youth Basketball Set580,000 sold between 1996 and 1999(800) 225-8647 x. 274Huffy Sports Sussex, Wis.Youth One-On-One180,000 sold between 1994 and 1999(800) 558-5234 www.huffysports.comLifetime Products Clearfield, UtahShoot Case140,000 sold between 1993 and 1997(800) 242-3865 www.lifetime.comToday's announcement is the result of reports to CPSC following the December 1998 recalls. The press release about those recalls also contains a video clip showing the hazard.

Hazard

Children could strangle on loops or openings in nets that come unhooked from the rim or have knots that slide. If children put their heads into these openings, the net can get tangled around their necks.

Incidents & Injuries

Franklin Sports has received one report of a 3-year-old boy getting his head and neck caught in a basketball net. Huffy Sports and Lifetime Products have received no incident reports. No injuries have been reported.In December 1998, Fisher Price, Little Tikes, Ohio Art and Today's Kids recalled 10.1 million toy basketball sets to replace their nets. This recall followed 20 reports of children under 5 getting their heads and necks caught in the nets, including the death of an 18-month-old child.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should remove and throw away nets that can unhook or have knots that slide. Manufacturers will send consumers new nets that securely attach to the rim and do not have sliding knots. The basketball set can be used without a net until the new net arrives. Consumers should not return the product to stores.

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.