Recall: Fitness Quest Inc. Recall to Repair Ab Lounge™ Exercise Products

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 23, 2004 Release # 05-055

Firm's Hotline: (800) 321-9236 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

CPSC, Fitness Quest Inc. Announce Recall to Repair Ab Lounge™ Exercise Products

WASHINGTON, D.C. - (The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced voluntary recalls of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: Ab Lounge™, Ab Lounge™ 2, and Ab Lounge™ Ultimate Exercisers

Units: About 460,000

Distributor: Fitness Quest Inc., of Canton, Ohio

Hazard: When opening or folding up these exercise machines, consumers can catch their fingers in the hinges. This can result in lacerations, crushing, or amputation to finger tips. This does not occur while users are exercising.

Incidents/Injuries: Fitness Quest has received 15 reports of injuries, including lacerations, crushing and amputations to finger tips.

Description: The recall includes the Ab Lounge™, Ab Lounge™ 2, and Ab Lounge™ Ultimate exercisers. The machines have the name "Ab Lounge" or "Ab Lounge 2" printed on the upper front fabric of the seat. The recall involves machines with the following serial numbers:

• Ab Lounge™ machines: ALX-000001 through ALX-037999, and all machines that start with serial numbers 03 44 through 04 36.
• Ab Lounge™ 2 machines: AL2X-000001 through AL2X-059060, and all machines that start with serial numbers 04 03 through 04 36.
• Ab Lounge™ Ultimate machines: all machines that start with serial numbers 04 28 through 04 34.

The serial number is located on a label on the bottom of the front frame. Ab Lounge™ exercise products with straight brackets that do not fold are not part of this recall.

Sold at: Infomercial, Internet, catalog, and discount department and sporting goods stores, including Wal-Mart and Dicks Sporting Goods, nationwide since October 2003 for between $100 and $210.

Manufactured in: China and Thailand.

Remedy: Consumers should stop using these exercisers and contact the firm for a free repair kit. The firm is contacting all consumers who purchased the Ab Lounge™ directly from Fitness Quest via infomercial or website. Due to the large number of repair kits required to meet demand, these consumers may experience a delay of a few weeks before they receive their kits. Any consumer who owns an Ab Lounge™ purchased at a retail store should stop using the equipment and contact Fitness Quest immediately to receive the repair kit.

Consumer Contact: Contact Fitness Quest at (800) 321-9236 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or log on to www.fitnessquest.com