Versatile cooler rack

Abstract

A merchandise rack for attaching to a cooler door has a base arm and two frames for supporting items, such as bottles, in the rack. The base arm and frames are positioned parallel to one another, and each has their ends hingedly connected to side members on the rack. These hinged connections allow the positions of the base arm and frames to shift relative to one another so that the entire rack can be shifted. When shifted, the rack can support bottles or other items diagonally and can position in one of two vertical orientations on the cooler door. When not shifted, the rack can support the bottles or other items vertically in the rack while positioned horizontally on the cooler door.

1 . A merchandise rack, comprising:
 a base member supporting a bottom portion of one or more items in the rack;   a frame member positioned parallel to the base member and supporting another portion of the one or more items in the rack;   a first end member movably connected to a first end of the frame member and to a first end of the base member; and   a second end member movably connected to a second end of the frame member and to a second end of the base member.   
   
   
       2 . The rack of  claim 1 , wherein the frame member is shiftable relative to the base member to diagonally support the one or more items in the cooler rack. 
   
   
       3 . The rack of  claim 1 , further comprising means for attaching the rack to a surface. 
   
   
       4 . The rack of  claim 1 , wherein the base member comprises a tray, a plate, a bar, an arm, or a rod. 
   
   
       5 . The rack of  claim 1 , wherein the frame member comprises first and second edge wires interconnected by at least two cross wires, the edge and cross wires forming one or more slots to support the one or more items in the frame member. 
   
   
       6 . A merchandise rack, comprising:
 a base member supporting a bottom portion of one or more items in the rack;   a first frame member positioned parallel to the base member and having one or more first slots to hold one or more items in the rack;   a second frame member positioned parallel to the first frame member and having one or more second slots to hold the one or more items in the rack;   a first end member having first movable connections to first ends of the base member, the first frame member, and the second frame member; and   a second end member having second movable connections to second ends of the base member, the first frame member, and the second frame member.   
   
   
       7 . The rack of  claim 6 , wherein the base member comprises a tray, a plate, a bar, an arm, or a rod. 
   
   
       8 . The rack of  claim 6 , wherein the first frame member comprises first and second edge wires interconnected by at least two cross wires, the edge and cross wires forming the one or more slots to support the one or more items. 
   
   
       9 . The rack of  claim 6 , further comprising means for attaching the rack to a surface. 
   
   
       10 . The rack of  claim 6 , wherein the first frame member comprises a plurality of first suction cups connected thereto to attach the rack to a cooler door. 
   
   
       11 . The rack of  claim 10 , wherein the second frame member comprises a plurality of second suction cups connected thereto to attach the rack to the cooler door. 
   
   
       12 . The rack of  claim 6 , wherein the first frame member comprises a display plaque connected to thereto. 
   
   
       13 . The rack of  claim 12 , wherein the display plaque has slotted edges to receive a removable insert therein. 
   
   
       14 . The rack of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second movable connections permit the positions of the first and second frame members and the base member to shift relative to one another while remaining parallel. 
   
   
       15 . The rack of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second frame members permit the one or more items to be supported diagonally in the rack when shifted. 
   
   
       16 . The rack of  claim 6 , wherein the first movable connections to the base member comprises a hinged connection between an eyelet on the first end member inserted into a forked end on the base member. 
   
   
       17 . The rack of  claim 6 , wherein the first movable connections to the first frame member comprises a hinged connection between one or more wires on the first frame member at least partially inserted into a tube attached to the first end member. 
   
   
       18 . A merchandise rack, comprising:
 a base member supporting a bottom portion of one or more items in the rack;   at least one frame member positioned parallel to the base member and having one or more first slots to hold the one or more items in the rack;   a first end member having
 a first movable connection to one end of the base member, and 
 a second movable connection to one end of the at least one frame member; and 
   a second end member having
 a third movable connection to another end of the base member, and 
 a fourth movable connection to another end of the at least one frame member. 
   
   
   
       19 . The rack of  claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of suction cups attached to the rack to support the rack on a surface. 
   
   
       20 . A merchandise rack, comprising:
 means for attaching the rack adjacent a surface;   means for holding a bottom portion of one or more items in the rack;   means for holding at least a mid portion of the one or more items in the rack; and   means for shifting position of the mid portion of the one or more items relative to the bottom portion to support the one or more items diagonally in the rack.