CLEARFIELD, UTAH (March 29, 2004)
“The problem in question occurred when customers disregarded the instructions and over-tightened the bolt. The instructions warned against this because the over-tightening would indent the pole, causing damage to the pole which led the bolt to protrude past the end of the bolt.”
“Our in-house product tests showed that our basketball systems passed all ASTM standards and there was no protruding danger when properly assembled. The ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) provides international safety standards for our industry – specifically the manufacture, assembly, recommended maintenance and use of complete residential basketball systems.”
“We provided our ASTM testing information to CPSC in March 2000, we got no response from CPSC in regards to our testing results.”
“In June 2000, we added cap nuts to the system to protect the end of the bolt IN CASE the customers disregarded our instructions (which passed ASTM Standards) and over-tightened the bolt.”
“The CPSC did not require a recall until nearly two years after we had added the cap nuts to the system.”
“We maintain that the bolt, when assembled correctly, does not protrude and was not defective.”
For more information on Lifetime or its products, contact Communications Manager Phil Mickey at (801) 776-1532 ex. 1239 or e-mail pmickey@lifetime.com.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 28, 2002) -- Children nationwide are heading outdoors to practice their shots with portable basketball hoops. In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Lifetime Products Inc., of Clearfield, Utah, and Escalade Sports, of Evansville, Ind. are voluntarily recalling about 1.7 million portable basketball hoops. There are about 1.7 million Lifetime portable basketball hoops and about 16,000 Escalade Sports basketball hoops being recalled. The basketball hoops may have a sharp protruding bolt on the players' side of the pole that can cause serious leg or body lacerations to consumers when the bolt is exposed.
CPSC and Lifetime Products Inc. have received 27 reports of injuries and Escalade Sports has received one report of injury from the basketball hoop bolt. Injuries include scrapes, deep lacerations and bruises. Several consumers required stitches for their injuries. Players have been cut when they bump into the pole as they drive toward the basket.
All Lifetime portable basketball system models, except the "Quick Court" are included in the recall. The Escalade Sports basketball hoop models included in the recall are the Harvard, The Big Easy, B3100, B3301, B3302, B3303, B3304, B3305, B3306, B3403, B3500, Spalding, The Big Easy B3402 and Apex B9995, Mini Court, Alley Court.
These portable basketball hoops come unassembled with a flat plastic base that is weighted down by either sand or water that is added during assembly. The basketball poles are made of black metal. The brand names or model names may appear on the backboard, main pole or the flat plastic base of the basketball hoops.
Sporting good, department and toy stores including Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target and Toys R Us nationwide sold the Lifetime basketball hoops between January 1994 and July 2000 and the Escalade Sports basketball hoops between March 1994 and December 2001 for between $80 and $500.
Consumers should stop using the basketball hoops immediately and contact Lifetime Products or Escalade Sports to receive free cap nuts to cover the bolts. Consumers should call and get a cap nut regardless of whether their bolt protrudes or not.
Consumers can contact Lifetime Products Inc. at (800) 225-3865 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. MT or 9 a.m and 6 p.m CT Monday through Friday or the firm's web site at www.lifetime.com.
Escalade Sports can be reached at (800) 467-1397 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or the firm's web site at www.escaladesports.com.