DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The invention relates to a storage compartment or cargo area of a vehicle, more particularly to a modular assembly for the cargo area of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] All vehicles have some form of storage or cargo area and the type of cargo area changes with the type of vehicle. Typically, the cargo area is provided behind rear seats of the vehicle and is accessible through a door. The cargo area has a floor with a storage-well provided therein for accommodating a spare-tire, and the floor is covered by a panel. Also, the panel serves as a platform for storing various goods.
[003] Further, area/volume/capacity of the cargo area is defined by space available between side walls of the vehicle, back-end of seats of the vehicle, the floor/panel of the cargo area and the door of the cargo area. Accordingly, storage space of the cargo area is fixed. Also, position of the panel is fixed, and height of the panel cannot be adjusted. Thus, when seats are folded, there is a difference in level of the floor height and the surface of folded seats providing an uneven surface area for the storage of goods. Due to this, the existing arrangements are not suitable, especially for different shape and sizes of goods such as bicycle, TV or similar size of objects.
[004] In view of the aforesaid, there is a need in the art to address at-least the aforementioned drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[005] In one aspect, the present invention provides a modular assembly for a cargo area of a vehicle having opposing side-walls and a floor with a wheel well, the modular assembly comprising a cover panel disposable above the floor, the cover panel having an area corresponding with the floor of the cargo area and the cover panel adaptable between the opposing side walls of the cargo area in a lowered position or an elevated position to alter storage space of the cargo area; and a storage box configured to be adapted to the wheel well, the storage box disposed below the cover panel, the storage box comprising a first box and a second box stackable with the first box in a first configuration or a second configuration, in the first configuration the first box is stackable above the second box and supports the cover panel in the elevated position, and in the second configuration the first box is stackable above the second box and supports the cover panel in the lowered position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[006] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Figure 1 shows a modular assembly adapted to a vehicle cargo area in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 shows a modular assembly adapted to a vehicle cargo area in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 shows a cover panel in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4 shows a storage box in a first configuration accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 5 shows a storage box in a second configuration accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 6 shows a first box of the storage box in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 7 shows a second box of the storage box in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[007] The present invention provides a modular assembly for a cargo area of a vehicle, whereby storage area of the vehicle cargo area can be adjusted as per requirement.
[008] Figures 1 and 2 show a modular assembly 100 adapted to a cargo area 150 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The cargo area is defined by area behind a rear seat of the vehicle. The modular assembly 100 comprises a cover panel 200 and a storage box 300. As shown, the modular assembly 100 is adapted behind the seat X of the vehicle. The cover panel 200 abuts the seat X, and is adaptable between two side walls of the vehicle in a lowered position or an elevated position. The side walls have two pair of slots – a first pair of slots and a second pair of slots. The second pair of slots is provided above the first pair of slots. Accordingly, the cover panel 200 can be adapted in either the first pair of slots or the second pair of slots whereby the first pair of slots receives and holds the cover panel 200 in the lowered position whereas the second pair of slots receive and hold the cover panel 200 in the elevated position. In the lowered position, the storage area of the cargo area 150 will be maximum enabling maximum storage of goods as floor level is reduced or height between the cover panel 200 and top roof increases. The cover panel 200 is adapted to the first pair of slots or at the lowered position when the vehicle seat X is in a normal condition to maximize the storage area of the cargo area 150.
[009] The second pair of slots is provided such that when the cover panel 200 is adapted to the slots, the cover panel 200 is in the elevated position. In the elevated position, the cover panel 200 is in alignment with surface of the seats in a folded condition as shown in figure 2. Accordingly, when the seat X is folded, and the cover panel 200 is adapted in the second pair of slots a continuous surface or a flat floor condition is attained, enabling larger/longer size of goods to be accommodated in the vehicle.
[010] Figure 3 shows a foldable cover panel 200. The cover panel 200 comprises plurality of segments 202 wherein each segment is interconnected by a flexible hinge 204. The flexible hinge 204 allows the segments to be folded. Thus, the segments can be simply folded to access articles stored under the foldable cover panel 200. The foldable cover panel 200 thus provides easy access to articles stored there under.
[011] Figures 4 and 5 show the storage box 300 in greater detail. The storage box 300 comprises of a first box 310 and a second box 320, and is adaptable in the wheel well of the vehicle cargo area 150 or spare wheel hub. The storage box can be adapted in the wheel well via a snap fit mechanism or any other means/mechanism. The first box 310 and the second box 320 are storage boxes which can be configured to store various tools like spanner, screw jack etc. As shown, the first box 310 and the second box 320 are configured to be stackable one above the other. In this regard, the storage box 300 is configurable in a first configuration or a second configuration. In the first configuration, the first box 310 can be placed above the second box 320 as shown in figure 4, and in the second configuration, the second box 320 can be placed above the first box 310 as shown in figure 5. The storage box 300 in the first configuration has a greater height compared to the storage box 300 in the second configuration. The configuration of the storage box 300 is dependent upon the floor height required in the cargo area 150. The storage box 300 as shown in the figures is provided below the cover panel 200 and acts as a support structure for the cover panel 200. Accordingly, for the cover panel 200 in the elevated position, the storage box 300 is in the first configuration as shown in figure 1, and for the cover panel 200 in the lowered position, the storage box 300 is in the second configuration as shown in figure 2. The storage box 300 thus acts as a spacer providing support to the cover panel 200 in the lowered position or the elevated position by changing its configuration.
[012] Referring to figure 6 and 7, which shows the first box 310 and the second box 320. As shown in figure 6, the first box 310 comprises a top side 310A and a bottom side 310B, and the second box 320, as shown in figure 7 comprises an upper side 320A and a lower side 320B. In an embodiment, the bottom side of the first box 310 is inter-lockable with the upper side 320A or the lower side 320B of the first box 310.
[013] The bottom side 310B of the first box 310 comprises a pair of protruding members 312 and an opening 314 about the center of the first box 310. The upper side 310A of the second box 320 comprises pair of grooves 322 to receive the pair of protruding members 312 of the first box 310, whereby the protruding members 312 snap fit with the grooves 322 to interlock the first box 310 above the second box 320. As shown in figure 7, the lower side 320B of the second box 320 comprises a protruding storage area 324, the protruding storage area 324 configured to be adapted in the opening of the first box 310 to interlock the first box 310 below the second box 320. The protruding storage area 324 of the second box 320 and the opening of the first box 310 have a twist and lock mechanism for the interlocking the first box 310 with the second box 320. In this regard, the first box 310 has at-least one projection and the protruding storage area 324 of the second box 320 has a recess on its outer periphery whereby upon twisting the first box 310, the projection slides in the recess to interlock the first box 310 with the second box 320. Thus, the first box and the second box can be interlocked in the first configuration and the second configuration.
[014] Advantageously, the modular assembly allows for adjustment in storage space of the cargo area by changing position of the cover panel and configuration of the storage box. The modular assembly thus optimizes and maximizes limited space of the cargo area as per requirement.
[015] While the present invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. A modular assembly (100) for a cargo area (150) of a vehicle having opposing side-walls and a floor with a wheel well, the modular assembly comprising:
a cover panel (200) disposable above the floor, the cover panel having an area corresponding with the floor of the cargo area and the cover panel adaptable between the opposing side walls of the cargo area in a lowered position or an elevated position to alter storage space of the cargo area; and
a storage box (300) configured to be adapted to the wheel well, the storage box disposed below the cover panel, the storage box comprising a first box (310) and a second box (320) stackable with the first box in a first configuration or a second configuration, in the first configuration the first box is stackable above the second box and supports the cover panel in the elevated position, and in the second configuration the first box is stackable above the second box and supports the cover panel in the lowered position.

2. The modular assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side-walls of the cargo area comprises a first pair of slots for receiving and holding the cover panel between the side-walls in the lowered position and a second pair of slots provided above the first pair of slots for receiving and holding the cover panel between the side-walls in the elevated position.

3. The modular assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover panel comprises plurality of segments (202), each segment interconnected by a flexible hinge (204), the flexible hinge allows the segments to be folded about the hinge.

4. The modular assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first box comprises a top side (310A) and a bottom side (310B), and the second box comprises an upper side (320A) and a lower side (320B), wherein the bottom side of the first box is inter-lockable with the upper side or the lower side of the second box.

5. The modular assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the bottom side of the first box comprises a pair of protruding members (312) and an opening (314) about the center of the first box.

6. The modular assembly as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the upper side of the second box comprises pair of grooves (322) to receive the pair of protruding members of the first box to interlock the first box with the second box.

7. The modular assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pair of protruding members snap-fits with the grooves to interlock the first box above the second box in the first configuration.

8. The modular assembly as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the lower side of the second box comprises a protruding storage area (324), the protruding storage area configured to be adapted in the opening of the first box, to interlock the first box below the second box in the second configuration.

9. The modular assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the protruding storage area and opening are configured for twist and lock engagement to interlock the first box with the second box.

10. The modular assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cargo area is defined by area behind a rear seat (X) of the vehicle, the rear seat being a foldable rear seat.

11. The modular assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 10, wherein the cover panel in the elevated position is coplanar with the folded rear seat to form a continuous flat surface.