# Bowflex > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bowflex > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bowflex.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowflex > Source revision: 1354178310 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Type of exercise equipment}} {{Infobox brand |name = BowFlex |logo = 200px|class=skin-invert |logo_caption = Logo used since 2023 |producttype = Fitness equipment |origin = United States |introduced = 1986 |currentowner = [Johnson Health Tech](/source/Johnson_Health_Tech) |website = {{url|bowflex.com}} }} '''BowFlex''' is the brand name for a series of fitness training equipment, marketed and sold by [Johnson Health Tech](/source/Johnson_Health_Tech). Based in Vancouver, Washington,By Aaron Corvin, The Columbian."[http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/sep/10/nautilus-rolls-out-new-fitness-products/ / Nautilus rolls out new fitness products]."September 10, 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2014. the company sells its products through direct, retail, and international channels.By Staff, Portland Business Journal."[http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/print-edition/2013/02/08/executive-profile---bruce-m-cazenave.html / Executive Profile - Bruce M. Cazenave]."February 8, 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.{{cite web |last1=Gotch |first1=Nathan |title=The Only Bowflex Review You Need |url=http://www.streetarticles.com/fitness-equipment/the-only-bowflex-review-you-need |website=Street Articles |access-date=May 20, 2022 |date=May 20, 2013}} The first BowFlex product, BowFlex 2000X, was created in 1986. BowFlex products now range from cardio machines,By Mark Barroso, Men's Fitness."[http://www.mensfitness.com/training/cardio/nautilus-launches-new-fitness-products / Nautilus Launches New Fitness Products]." September 13, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2013. adjustable dumbbells,By Mark Barroso, Men's Fitness."[http://www.mensfitness.com/training/workout-routines/the-at-home-arms-workout / The At-Home Arm Workout]." November 12, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2013. and home gyms.The Review Crew, Reviewboard Magazine."[http://www.reviewboard.com/bowflex-xtreme-2-home-gym-review / Bowflex Xtreme 2 Home Gym Review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415134100/http://www.reviewboard.com/bowflex-xtreme-2-home-gym-review/ |date=2014-04-15 }}". April 15, 2010. Retrieved January 20, 2014. ==History== The BowFlex grew out of a now-expired patent{{Cite patent | country = US | number = 4,620,704 | inventor = | status = Expired - Lifetime | title = Universal Exercising Machine | pubdate = 1986-11-04 | gdate = 1986-11-04 | fdate = 1984-04-27 | pridate = 1984-04-27 | assign1 = | assign2 = | url = https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/83/27/0b/11d05d465a8b89/US4620704.pdf | inventor-link = https://patents.justia.com/inventor/tessema-dosho-shifferaw }} first conceived by an Ethiopian engineering student in the United States, named Tessema Dosho Shifferaw. BowFlex of America, Inc. began marketing the first product, BowFlex 2000X in 1986. Instead of conventional [weights](/source/Wrist_weights) or [pulley](/source/pulley) machines, the original BowFlex machine used a combination of polymer rods to create constant resistance or tension. BowFlex of America merged with Stratford Software Corporation, USA in 1993 and changed its name to BowFlex, Inc. It became a public company on the [Toronto Stock Exchange](/source/Toronto_Stock_Exchange). In 1998, the company changed its name to Direct Focus, Inc. and initiated an IPO on [Nasdaq](/source/Nasdaq). With the success of BowFlex, the company bought [Nautilus International, Inc.](/source/Nautilus_Corporation), [Schwinn Fitness](/source/Schwinn_Fitness), and [Stairmaster](/source/Stairmaster). In 2002, the company moved to the [NYSE](/source/NYSE) and renamed itself The Nautilus Group, then [Nautilus, Inc.](/source/Nautilus%2C_Inc.) The company changed its name from Nautilus, Inc. to BowFlex Inc.{{Cite web | title = Nautilus, Inc. Rebrands as BowFlex Inc.: ''Name change reinforces iconic home fitness brand; reflects company's continued transformation'' | url = https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231031461832/en/Nautilus-Inc.-Rebrands-as-BowFlex-Inc. | publisher = [Business Wire](/source/Business_Wire) | date = 2023-11-01 | access-date = 2024-09-23 | language = en }} and refreshed the BowFlex® brand identity{{Cite web | title = Nautilus, Inc. Relaunches BowFlex® Brand | url = https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230731979333/en/Nautilus-Inc.-Relaunches-BowFlex%C2%AE-Brand | publisher = [Business Wire](/source/Business_Wire) | date = 2023-07-31 | access-date = 2024-09-23 | language = en }} in 2023. In March 2024, BowFlex declared [Chapter 11 bankruptcy](/source/Chapter_11_bankruptcy), citing poor post-COVID sales for its collapse. Taiwan-based Johnson Health Tech purchased the company for $37.5 million after approval from the bankruptcy court in April 2024.{{cite news |last1=Wolf |first1=Sarah |title=Vancouver-based BowFlex sold for $37.5 million |url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/apr/15/vancouver-based-bowflex-sold-for-37-5-million/ |access-date=28 March 2025 |publisher=The Columbian |date=15 April 2024}} ==Recalls== On January 29, 2004, about 420,000 BowFlex machines were [recalled](/source/product_recall) due to mechanical problems. In November 2004, there was a recall of nearly 800,000 (680,000 Power Pro units and 102,000 Ultimate units) BowFlex machines after reports that several models had broken unexpectedly. The [Consumer Product Safety Commission](/source/Consumer_Product_Safety_Commission) said that the seats could unexpectedly break and that the backboard bench could collapse when in the incline position on the Power Pro model. This recall was voluntary and the company offered every purchaser a free safety repair kit.By N/A, Associated Press."[https://web.archive.org/web/20151024233336/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/6501930 Nearly 800,000 Bowflex machines recalled]." November 16, 2004. Retrieved April 22, 2014. In March 2006, about 17,000 BowFlex Ultimate 2's were recalled due to problems.By N/A, Consumer Product Safety Commission.[http://www.cpsc.gov/en/recalls/2006/cpsc-nautilus-inc-announce-recall-to-repair-bowflex-ultimate-2-home-gyms / CPSC, Nautilus Inc. Announce Recall to Repair Bowflex Ultimate 2 Home Gyms]." March 30, 2006. Retrieved April 22, 2014. In December 2007 about 68,000 home gyms were recalled.By Peter Hadzipetros, CBC. "[http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/recalls/2007/12/bowflex-ultimate-2-home-gyms-recalled-from-marketplace.html / Bowflex Ultimate 2 home gyms recalled from marketplace]." December 6, 2007. Retrieved April 22, 2014. In March 2009, about 78,000 BowFlex Ultimate 2's were recalled due to problems with the horizontal seat rail.By Ben Rooney, CNN Money."[https://web.archive.org/web/20090311050900/http://money.cnn.com/2009/03/03/news/companies/bowflex_recall/ / Nautilus recalls 78,000 Bowflex gyms]." March 3, 2009. Retrieved April 22, 2014. ==See also== * {{section link|NASA spinoff technologies|Bowflex Revolution}} ==External links== *[https://www.bowflex.com/ Official site] ==References== {{reflist}} Category:American companies established in 1986 Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024 Category:Exercise equipment companies Category:Weight training equipment --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bowflex](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowflex) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowflex?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.