Recall: Ab Lounge exercisers may injure fingers

Tuesday, November 23rd 2004, 2:18 pm

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ An Ohio company is recalling about 460,000 abdominal exercise machines after reports that some consumers were injured when their fingers got caught in the hinges.

Fitness Quest Inc., of Canton, Ohio, said Tuesday it was recalling some of its Ab Lounge, Ab Lounge 2 and Ab Lounge Ultimate Exercisers because of the injury risk. The company has received 15 reports of injuries, including cases in which people cut, crushed or amputated their fingers.

The injuries do not occur while users are exercising, but when they are folding or unfolding the machines, the company said. The recall does not include Ab Lounge exercisers with straight brackets that do not fold.

The machines were sold nationwide since October 2003 on television infomercials, on the Internet, and in catalogs, discount department and sporting goods stores, including Wal-Mart and Dicks Sporting Goods. They were manufactured in China and Thailand and sold for between $100 and $210.

The recall includes:

_Ab Lounge machines: ALX-000001 though 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 the serial numbers 04 03 through 04 36.

_Ab Lounge Ultimate machines with serial numbers 04 28 through 04 34.

The serial numbers are on a label on the bottom of the front frame.

Consumers should stop using the machines and contact Fitness Quest for a free repair kit. Fitness Quest can be reached at 1-800-321-9236 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EDT, Monday through Friday.