The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereCPSC·02129·Announced 2002-03-28

Lifetime and Escalade Portable Basketball Hoops Recalled for Sharp Bolt Hazard

Lifetime and Escalade portable basketball hoops are being recalled because a sharp bolt on the pole can cause serious lacerations. Consumers should stop using the hoops and contact the manufacturers for free cap nuts.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves significant injury reports, including deep lacerations requiring stitches, which aligns with the rubric criterion for 'significant injury/property-damage reports.'

Plain-English summary

Lifetime Products Inc. and Escalade Sports are recalling approximately 1.7 million Lifetime portable basketball hoops and 16,000 Escalade portable basketball hoops. The recall covers all Lifetime portable basketball system models except the "Quick Court," and specific Escalade models including the Harvard, The Big Easy, B3100, B3301, B3302, B3303, B3304, B3305, B3306, B3403, B3500, Spalding, The Big Easy B3402, Apex B9995, Mini Court, and Alley Court. These hoops feature black metal poles and flat plastic bases weighted with sand or water.

The recall is due to a sharp protruding bolt on the players' side of the pole, which can cause serious leg or body lacerations when exposed. CPSC and Lifetime Products have received 27 reports of injuries, and Escalade Sports has received one report. Injuries include scrapes, deep lacerations, and bruises, with several consumers requiring stitches. Players have been cut when bumping into the pole while driving toward the basket.

The affected hoops were sold nationwide at sporting goods, department, and toy stores, including Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target, and Toys R Us, for between $80 and $500. Lifetime hoops were sold between January 1994 and July 2000, while Escalade hoops were sold between March 1994 and December 2001. Consumers should stop using the basketball hoops immediately and contact Lifetime Products or Escalade Sports to receive free cap nuts to cover the bolts, regardless of whether the bolt currently protrudes.

The recalled product

Product
Portable basketball hoops
Manufacturer
Lifetime Products Inc., of Clearfield, Utah
Category
Consumer Product — Sports Equipment
Hazard
Affected units
16,000

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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