Automatic hanging item leveler

Abstract

A first suspension member can have a first end attached to a support structure and a second end attached to a first side of a hanging item. A second suspension member can have a first end attached to the support structure and a second end attached to a second side of the hanging item, with the hanging item being suspended from the first and second suspension members. A mechanism can be secured to the first suspension member, and a level indicator switch can be operable to activate the mechanism to level the hanging item by retracting the first suspension member if the hanging item is tilted in a first direction and extending the first suspension member if the hanging item is tilted in a second direction.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first suspension member having a first end attached to a support structure and a second end attached to a hanging item;   a second suspension member having a first end attached to the support structure and a second end attached to the hanging item, the hanging item being suspended from the first and second suspension members;   a mechanism secured to the first suspension member; and   a level indicator switch that is operable to activate the mechanism to level the hanging item by retracting the first suspension member if the hanging item is tilted in a first direction and extending the first suspension member if the hanging item is tilted in a second direction.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the level indicator switch is operable to deactivate the mechanism if the hanging item is level. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first suspension member is a flexible line. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the mechanism comprises a spool at the second end of the flexible line, wherein retracting the first suspension member comprises winding the flexible line on the spool by rotating the spool, and wherein extending the first suspension member comprises unwinding the flexible line from the spool by rotating the spool. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the mechanism further comprises a movement inhibitor that is operable to inhibit rotation of the spool when the mechanism is not activated. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism comprises an electric motor. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the level indicator switch is further operable to activate the mechanism to extend the second suspension member if the hanging item is tilted in the first direction, and the level indicator switch is operable to activate the mechanism to retract the second suspension member if the hanging item is tilted in the second direction. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the level indicator switch comprises a rolling moveable contact. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first suspension member having a first end adapted to be attached to a support structure and a second end adapted to be attached to a first side of a hanging item; and   means for automatically leveling the hanging item by retracting the first suspension member.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the means for leveling comprises means for activating a mechanism to retract the first suspension member if the hanging item is tilted in a first direction and to extend the first suspension member if the hanging item is tilted in a second direction. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the means for leveling comprises a motion inhibitor that inhibits extension of the length of the first suspension member when the mechanism is not activated. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the means for activating comprises a level indicator switch. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the means for activating comprises:
 means for activating the mechanism if the hanging item is not level; and   means for deactivating the mechanism if the hanging item is level.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a second suspension member having a first end adapted to be attached to the support structure and a second end adapted to be attached to a second side of the hanging item, and wherein the means for leveling comprises means for automatically leveling the hanging item by retracting the second suspension member. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the means for leveling comprises means for automatically leveling the hanging item by retracting the first suspension member and extending the second suspension member if the hanging item is tilted in a first direction, and by extending the first suspension member and retracting the second suspension member if the hanging item is tilted in a second direction. 
   
   
       16 . A method comprising:
 automatically determining whether a hanging item is tilted in a first direction, the hanging item being suspended from a first suspension member on a first side of the hanging item and from a second suspension member on a second side of the hanging item;   if the hanging item is tilted in the first direction, then automatically activating a mechanism to retract the first suspension member;   automatically determining whether the hanging item is tilted in a second direction; and   if the hanging item is tilted in the second direction, then automatically activating the mechanism to extend the first suspension member.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises activating the mechanism to retract the second suspension member if the hanging item is tilted in a second direction. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises:
 if the hanging item is tilted in the first direction, then activating the mechanism to extend the second suspension member; and   if the hanging item is tilted in the second direction, then activating the mechanism to extend the first suspension member and retract the second suspension member.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the mechanism comprises a spool connected to a motor, the motor being operable to rotate the spool to retract the first suspension member. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the spool is a first spool, the mechanism comprises a second spool, and the motor is operable to rotate the second spool to retract the second suspension member.