November 13, 2025 – A recent incident report details a concerning malfunction with a custom automatic TV rail system manufactured by I Grace Company. An IT technician performing routine service encountered the retractable system closing unexpectedly, causing property damage and highlighting a critical lack of safety sensors and manual override capabilities.
Product Details
Incident Overview
On November 13, 2025, an IT technician was servicing a smart home equipped with a custom automatic TV rail system, covered by a wood panel facade, manufactured by I Grace Company. The technician dismounted the TV from its wall mount to check HDMI connections. After remounting the TV, they used a remote controller to test a smart home function, which inadvertently activated the retractable rail system.
With the TV still slightly tilted and protruding, the rail system, driven by gears, began to close, crushing the side of the television. The technician immediately placed their right hand against the wooden cover panel, applying force to prevent further closure and potential injury to themselves and the TV. During this effort, the wood panel detached from its rail system hinges. With the wooden panel removed, the rail system’s skeleton was able to fully close without further impacting the TV.
However, the technician was left holding the detached wooden panel with their right arm, requiring significant strength to manage it safely while carefully stepping down and eventually leaning it vertically against the wall. The incident report emphasizes that the system lacked crucial safety sensors to retract upon encountering an obstruction, nor did it stop when reasonable manual force was applied. The technician is requesting that the builder, igrace.com, cover damages claimed by the homeowner, including scratched furniture and art, due to the incident.
Safety Concerns
This incident reveals significant safety concerns related to the design and operation of automatic TV rail systems, specifically:
- Crushing Hazard: The primary risk is the potential for crushing injuries to users, service personnel, or even children if they are caught between the moving panel and the TV or wall. The reported incident involved crushing a TV and nearly injuring the technician’s hand.
- Lack of Obstruction Sensors: A major design flaw highlighted is the absence of safety sensors that would detect an obstruction (like a hand, a person, or the TV itself) and immediately stop or reverse the system’s movement. This is a standard safety feature in many automated systems like garage doors or elevator doors.
- Failure to Stop with Applied Force: The system reportedly continued to operate even when manual force was applied to stop it, indicating a lack of a safety mechanism to halt motion when encountering reasonable resistance. This increases the risk of severe injury.
- Foreseeable Use Risks: The incident involved a common scenario—servicing a TV behind the panel. The design does not account for foreseeable interactions where obstructions might be present.
- Detaching Components: The wooden panel detaching from its hinges during the incident poses an additional risk of impact injury from a falling heavy object.
- Property Damage Potential: Beyond the TV, the incident also led to claims of scratched furniture and art, demonstrating the potential for significant property damage from an uncontrolled or malfunctioning system.
What Consumers Should Do
If you own or interact with an automatic TV rail system, especially one similar to the I Grace Company custom system, please take the following precautions:
- Discontinue Use Immediately if Concerns Arise: If your system lacks obvious safety sensors or does not stop when encountering a light obstruction, consider discontinuing automatic operation until its safety can be verified by a qualified professional.
- Inspect Your System: Check if your automatic TV cover system has visible safety features like infrared sensors (often small beams near the closing path) or pressure-sensitive edges that stop or reverse movement upon contact.
- Test for Obstruction Detection (with Extreme Caution): If you must test, use a soft, non-damaging object (e.g., a rolled towel) and observe if the system stops or reverses immediately upon contact. Never use your hands or allow any body part to be in the path of a closing system.
- Ensure Clear Path: Always ensure the path of the TV cover system is completely clear of any obstructions, including furniture, hands, and other objects, before activating.
- Supervise Children: Keep children away from automatic systems, especially during operation, as they may not understand the dangers.
- Contact the Manufacturer/Installer: If you have an I Grace Company custom TV rail system or a similar product and have safety concerns, contact the manufacturer or your installer/builder for guidance on safety features and potential upgrades.
- Report Incidents: If you or someone you know experiences a similar incident or discovers a potential hazard with an automatic TV rail system, report it immediately to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at www.cpsc.gov.
Manufacturer’s Response
As of the date of this report, the manufacturer, I Grace Company, has not provided a response to this incident report.
Legal Help Available
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or suffered property damage due to a product malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced product liability attorneys at Farzan Law understand the complexities of defective product cases and can help you navigate the legal process.
Contact us today for a free consultation: 424-325-3112
Our legal team has successfully represented clients in product liability cases involving defective appliances, automotive defects, medical devices, and consumer products. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win your case.
Note: This information is based on incident reports provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you find information that is incorrect, please contact us immediately so we can correct the post to reflect accurate information.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. This article is based on publicly available incident reports. The incidents mentioned have not necessarily been independently verified or adjudicated.