November 7^th, 2005

News  from CPSC
(U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, D.C. 20207

Thane Recall Hotline: (800) 895-0986
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

CPSC, Thane International Announce Recall of Perfect Air Ultra™ Air Purifiers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. (To access color photos of the following recalled products, see CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.)

Name of product: Perfect Air Ultra™ Air Purifiers
Units: About 35,000
Manufacturer: Well Brain International Ltd., of Tsimshatsui, Hong Kong, China
Retailer: Thane International Inc., of La Quinta, Calif.
Hazard: An overheating capacitor in these air purifiers can cause arcing in a connecting wire which poses the risk of fire. 
Incidents/Injuries: Thane has received six reports of incidents involving these air purifiers catching on fire or melting. Thane has also received six units which were returned by customers and show some evidence of melting and/or charring. No injuries have been reported.
Description: The Perfect Air Ultra™ is an air filtration device to counter indoor air pollution.  It measures approximately 12 inches high, 15 inches wide and 6 inches deep, and weighs about 3.2 pounds.  The outer casing is made of white plastic and has a gray function plate that is inserted into the top of the unit. The purifier has four stacked tubular rows with a series of horizontal vents along the length of each row. “Perfect Air Ultra™” is not written on the unit, but is written on the instruction booklet included with the unit.
Sold on: Television infomercials and via direct sales on Thane’s Web site from February 2004 through December 2004 for about $100.
Manufactured in: China.
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the air purifiers immediately and contact Thane for instructions on how to return them and receive a coupon for credit toward other Thane products.
Consumer Contact: Call Thane toll-free at (800) 895-0986 anytime, visit Thane’s Web site at www.thane.com or email the firm at thane@ecustomerresponse.com.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction.  Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually.  The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals – contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270 or visit CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.