Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced that Patton Electric Company Inc., New Haven, Indiana, has agreed to pay the Commission $90,000 in settlement of Commission staff allegations that the company failed to report in a timely manner a defect in its Model HF-10 portable electric space heaters imported from Hong Kong in 1983.
The agency staff alleged that the HF-10 space heater
contains a diode assembly that can fail in the "low heat mode."
When the diode fails, it can produce intense heat which causes
some of the space heaters to catch fire. Patton has denied all
staff allegations.
Prior to notifying the Commission concerning this matter in
February, 1984, Patton had received notification from consumers
of 51 incidents involving various alleged problems associated
with the Model HF-10 space heater. Patton reported one day after
the staff informed the firm of a death of an 18 month old baby
that was associated with the heater.
Patton imported from Hong Kong approximately 148,302 of the
Model HF-10 space heaters between August, 1983, and December,
1983. They were sold to the public under the Patton name through various retailers and by Sears, Roebuck and Company under its name. A recall and repair program was voluntarily initiated by Patton for the HF-10 space heaters in early April, 1984.
For additional information, consumers can call the CPSC
toll-free hotline number 80b-638-CPSC. A teletypewriter for the hearing impaired is 800-638-8270.