Nets of Toy Basketball Sets
CPSC Recall #99-036 - December 21, 1998
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 99-036 |
| Recall Date | December 21, 1998 |
| Remedy Type | - |
| Units Affected | 10.1 million |
Where It Was Sold
| Toy stores nationwide sold the toy basketball sets for about $10 to $50. While most have been sold since 1988 |
| some were sold as early as 1976. |
Product
Nets of Toy Basketball Sets
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Ohio Art, Little Tikes, Today's Kids and Fisher-Price announced a voluntary recall to replace the nets on 10.1 million toy basketball sets. Children could strangle on loops or openings in the 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.Since 1988, CPSC and the manufacturers have received 20 reports of children under 5 years old getting their heads and necks caught in the nets of toy basketball sets. In 1992, an 18-month-old child died after becoming entangled in a partly unhooked net.Consumers should immediately inspect their toy basketball sets for nets that can unhook from the rim or have knots that slide.The toy basketball sets with nets that need to be replaced come in a variety of colors and include a nylon net and plastic hoop attached to a plastic pole. The pole is set in a plastic base and adjusts from 3.5 to 6 feet high. The manufacturer's name and model are located on the backboard or base of each toy. The manufacturers will help consumers determine if the nets need to be replaced.Toy stores nationwide sold the toy basketball sets for about $10 to $50. While most have been sold since 1988, some were sold as early as 1976. Toy basketball sets sold in stores today, by the participating manufacturers, have nets that are attached securely to the rim, without sliding knots, and are not involved in this recall.Consumers should remove and throw away nets that can unhook or have knots that slide, and call the manufacturer. However, one of the manufacturers, Today's Kids, is out of business and a replacement part is no longer available, so either that set should either be used without the net, or that set should be discarded or destroyed. Consumers should have the manufacturer's name and model on hand before calling the other manufacturers, who 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 retailers.ManufacturerQuantity/Dates SoldToll-Free Number/ Web AddressOhio ArtBryan, Ohio4.2 million sold between 1976 and 1997(800) 641-6226www.world-of-toys.comLittle TikesHudson, Ohio3 million sold between 1993 and 1998(800) 321-0183www.littletikes.comToday's Kids1.7 million sold between 1986 and 1997Firm out of business.Fisher-PriceEast Aurora, N.Y.1.2 million sold between 1988 and 1996(800) 432-5437www.fisher-price.comIn 1995, Come Play, of Worcester, Mass., recalled about 70,000 basketball nets that were included in its Junior Pro Basketball Sets. For information about these recalled nets, consumers should call Come Play at (800) 528-3328.
Hazard
Children could strangle on loops or openings in the 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
Since 1988, CPSC and the manufacturers have received 20 reports of children under 5 years old getting their heads and necks caught in the nets of toy basketball sets. In 1992, an 18-month-old child died after becoming entangled in a partly unhooked net.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should remove and throw away nets that can unhook or have knots that slide, and call the manufacturer. However, one of the manufacturers, Today's Kids, is out of business and a replacement part is no longer available, so either that set should either be used without the net, or that set should be discarded or destroyed. Consumers should have the manufacturer's name and model on hand before calling the other manufacturers, who 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 retailers.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a remedy 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, replacement, or 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.