"Swyngomaric" Converta Cradles
CPSC Recall #82-044 - October 20, 1982
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 82-044 |
| Recall Date | October 20, 1982 |
| Remedy Type | Repair |
| Units Affected | Approximately 67,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| The products |
| which were sold exclusively through Grace Children's Products |
| Inc. |
| for $30 to $45 |
| have been sold in retail stores nationwide under the trade name |
| "Swyngomatic" |
| models 5900 |
| 5905 and 5970. They were also sold by Sears |
| Roebuck and Co. in its catalogue under the "Swyngomatic" name |
| catalogue i/36261 and 36273; J.C. Penney Company in its catalogue under the trade name "Toddle time" |
| catalogue #5161 |
| and Montgomery Ward in its catalogue under the trade name "Wynd-A-Matic" |
| catalogue number 5339. |
Product
"Swyngomaric" Converta Cradles
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Grace Metal Products, Inc., of Elverson, Pennsylvania, today announced a voluntary repair program affecting approximately 67,000 "Swyngomaric" Converta Cradles. The repair program is being conducted as a result of alleged insufficient support for the cradle's masonite bottom board which may allow infants to fall out of the cradle if the board is not positioned properly during assembly by the purchaser. The Commission is aware of 36 instances of the bottom collapsing which resulted in children falling out of the cradle to the ground. In at least 13 of these instances, injuries resulted consisting of bruises and cuts to the infants. The repair program applies to Converta Cradles manufactured from September, 1979 through July, 1980. The product is marketed as a 3 in 1 unit which can be used as a cradle, a swing or a carry cradle. The cradle consists of mesh sides with a steel tubular carrying handle which connects to the wind up mechanism. Those cradles which do not have two metal rods supporting the bottom board are affected by this repair program. The products, which were sold exclusively through Grace Children's Products, Inc., for $30 to $45 have been sold in retail stores nationwide under the trade name, "Swyngomatic", models 5900, 5905 and 5970. They were also sold by Sears,Roebuck and Co. in its catalogue under the "Swyngomatic" name, catalogue i/36261 and 36273; J.C. Penney Company in its catalogue under the trade name "Toddle time", catalogue #5161, and Montgomery Ward in its catalogue under the trade name "Wynd-A-Matic", catalogue number 5339. Grace has redesigned the bottom cradle board with floor support rods which they believe will provide an additional safety feature in the event the bottom board is not properly positioned during assembly. Consumers owning affected Converta Cradles should write to Grace Metal Products, P.O. Box 200, Elverson, Pennsylvania 19520 or call the firm on its toll-free telephone number, 800-345-4109 (in Pennsylvania, call 215-286-5951), for a free support kit consisting of two steel support rods, fasteners, and assembly instructions. Until the support rods are received, consumers are cautioned against using affected cradles.
Hazard
The repair program is being conducted as a result of alleged insufficient support for the cradle's masonite bottom board which may allow infants to fall out of the cradle if the board is not positioned properly during assembly by the purchaser.
Incidents & Injuries
The Commission is aware of 36 instances of the bottom collapsing which resulted in children falling out of the cradle to the ground. In at least 13 of these instances, injuries resulted consisting of bruises and cuts to the infants.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers owning affected Converta Cradles should write to Grace Metal Products, P.O. Box 200, Elverson, Pennsylvania 19520 or call the firm on its toll-free telephone number, 800-345-4109 (in Pennsylvania, call 215-286-5951), for a free support kit consisting of two steel support rods, fasteners, and assembly instructions. Until the support rods are received, consumers are cautioned against using affected cradles.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a 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 (Repair) at no cost to you.
Furniture tip-overs are a leading cause of pediatric injuries in the U.S., particularly dressers, bookcases, and television stands. CPSC data shows that a child dies approximately every two weeks from a furniture or TV tip-over. Unstable high chairs, baby swings, and bouncers are also frequent recall subjects due to fall risks. ASTM International standards now require that certain furniture must meet tip-over resistance standards, and CPSC has been actively pursuing mandatory requirements for dressers and chests. If you have furniture that was not recalled but feels unstable, wall-anchoring kits are widely available at hardware stores.
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.