Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A storage assembly (100) for a vehicle (200), the storage assembly (100) being located under a seat (210) of the vehicle (200), the storage assembly (100) comprising:
an enclosure (1010) formed under the seat (210), walls of the enclosure (1010) being formed by a passenger partition (250) and an enclosed cover (230) provided in a driver compartment (260) of the vehicle (200), the passenger partition (250) separating the driver compartment (260) and a passenger compartment (270) of the vehicle (200), a part of a vehicle floor (204) forming a bottom of the enclosure (1010), and the seat (210) forming a top cover of the enclosure (1010); and
a tray (110) disposed in the enclosure (1010), the tray (110) having a bottom portion (112) and side walls (114), the tray forming a first storage volume (320) and a second storage volume (310) below the first storage volume (320) within the enclosure (1010), the second storage volume (310) being configured to store a spare part of the vehicle (200), the profile of the bottom portion (112) running substantially parallel to the profile of the spare part stored in the second storage volume (310).

2. The storage assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom portion (112) has a stepped profile (112p), the bottom portion (112) having a depression (112d) to accommodate the spare part stored in the second storage volume (310).

3. The storage assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tray (110) has side flanges (120) on the side walls (114), the side flanges (120) being adapted for mounting on a seat frame (220), the tray (110) resting on the seat frame (220) by the side flanges (120), the seat frame providing support to the seat (210).
4. The storage assembly (100) as claimed in claim 3 includes mounting brackets (130, 140a, 140b) for detachably fixing and mounting the tray (110) within the enclosure (1010), wherein the mounting brackets (130, 140a, 140b) include a boltable bracket (130) provided at a rear portion of the tray (110) and a pair of brackets (140a,b) provided at a front portion of the tray (110) with respect to a vehicle direction (202), the boltable bracket (130) being bolted to the passenger partition (250) and the pair of brackets (140a,b) being welded to the seat frame (220).
5. The storage assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1 includes a locking means ((240s,t)) for locking the tray (110), the tray (110) having a cut-out section (520) on the side flanges (120) configured for mounting the locking means ((240s,t)).
6. The storage assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tray (110) has handling cut-out sections (122a,b) on the side flanges (120), the handling cut-out sections (122a,b) providing for accessing and handling the tray (110).
7. The storage assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat (210) is for use by a driver of the vehicle (200) while driving the vehicle (200) and the enclosure (1010) is located in the driver compartment (260) under the driver while driving the vehicle (200).
, Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates to a storage assembly for a vehicle and more particularly to a storage assembly below a seat of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Typically, a vehicle such as a three-wheeled vehicle has an arc shaped front cowl when viewed from the top. A dashboard is configured and attached to an inner surface of the front cowl. The dashboard also has an arc shaped profile. Therefore, storage space in the vehicle is limited by the shape of the front cowl. It has been suggested to increase the storage space but as a result there is a need to provide reinforcement to the dashboard since the dashboard is mounted as a hanging structure attached to the front cowl. This increases the overall cost and weight of the vehicle.
[003] As an alternative solution, to address the space issue, it has been tried in the prior art to provide a storage space in a storage compartment provided below the drive seat. The storage compartment is defined by the utility cover.
[004] However, these vehicles typically run on unmetalled roads in rural areas and therefore, the objects stored in the storage compartment are free to move during bumpy rides and sharp turns. It has been a known problem of not only the objects stored getting damaged but also the utility cover takes a few dents per ride too. This also leads to Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) issues with the vehicle.
[005] The previous solution of using the storage space under the seat has additional problems associated with it. For certain three-wheeled vehicle, the compartment under the seat is used to store a stepney of the vehicle. During rainy season, when a tire change is required, the tire being replaced and being stored back in the under-seat compartment is wet and unavoidably dirty and laden with mud from the road. The objects being stored within the compartment then are prone to more damage and soiling.
[006] Moreover, when the seat is flipped open to access the storage compartment and the objects stored in there, the stepney is directly visible, which does not look aesthetically good.
[007] In order to arrest the movement of such objects stored freely in the storage compartment, dedicated structures need to be provided, which further add more weight and cost.
[008] Thus, there is a need in the art for providing solutions with respect to storage space in a vehicle, which addresses at least the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[009] In one aspect, the present invention is directed at a storage assembly for a vehicle. The storage assembly is located under a seat of the vehicle. The storage assembly includes an enclosure formed under the seat and a tray disposed in the enclosure. The walls of the enclosure are formed by a passenger partition and an enclosed cover provided in a driver compartment of the vehicle. The passenger partition separates the driver compartment from a passenger compartment of the vehicle. A part of a vehicle floor forms a bottom of the enclosure. The seat forms a top cover of the enclosure.
[010] The tray has a bottom portion and side walls. The tray is disposed in the enclosure and forms a first storage volume and a second storage volume below the first storage volume within the enclosure. The second storage volume is configured to store a spare part of the vehicle. The profile of the bottom portion of the tray runs substantially parallel to the profile of the spare part stored in the second storage volume.
[011] In an embodiment, the bottom portion of the tray has a stepped profile. The bottom portion has a depression to accommodate according to the shape of the spare part stored in the second storage volume.
[012] In an embodiment, the tray has side flanges on the side walls. The side flanges are adapted for mounting the tray on a seat frame. The tray rests on the seat frame by the side flanges. The seat is mounted on the seat frame and the seat frame supports the seat.
[013] In an embodiment, the storage assembly includes mounting brackets for detachably fixing and mounting the tray within the enclosure. The mounting brackets include a boltable bracket provided at a rear portion of the tray and a pair of brackets provided at a front portion of the tray. The boltable bracket is bolted to the passenger partition. The pair of brackets is welded to the seat frame.
[014] In an embodiment, the storage assembly includes locking means for locking the tray. The tray has a cut-out section on the side flanges configured for mounting the locking means.
[015] In an embodiment, the tray has handling cut-out sections on the side flanges. The handling cut-out sections provides access for handling and removing the tray when required.
[016] In an embodiment, the seat is for use by a driver of the vehicle while driving the vehicle. The enclosure is located in the driver compartment under the driver while driving the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[017] 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 1A and 1B illustrate a tray of a storage assembly in a perspective view, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 and Figure 3 illustrate a part of a vehicle along with the storage assembly in different perspective views, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4 illustrate a part of the vehicle along with the storage assembly in an exploded perspective view, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 5 illustrates the tray in a top view in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 6A illustrates the tray in a side view; and
Figure 6B illustrates the tray in a sectional side view, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figures 7A-C and Figures 8A-C illustrate a part of the vehicle in various sectional views, wherein:
Figure 7A and Figure 8A illustrate the vehicle in various top views;
Figure 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XSEC0001- XSEC0001 in Figure 7A, which is a top view of a part of the vehicle;
Figure 7C is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XSEC0002- XSEC0002 in Figure 7A;
Figure 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XSEC0003- XSEC0003 in Figure 8A; and
Figure 8C is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XSEC0004- XSEC0004 in Figure 8A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[018] The present invention relates to a storage assembly for a vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a storage assembly under a seat of the vehicle.
[019] Figure 2 and Figure 3 illustrate a part of a vehicle 200 along with a storage assembly 100 in different perspective views, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Figure 4 illustrate a part of the vehicle 200 along with the storage assembly 100 in an exploded perspective view, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Common to Figures 2-4, a direction arrow 202 points towards a front of the vehicle 200. The vehicle 200 has a passenger partition 250 which separates a vehicular space supported by a vehicle floor 204 into a passenger compartment 270 and a driver compartment 260. The storage assembly 100 is located under a seat 210 of the vehicle 200. The storage assembly 100 includes an enclosure 1010 formed under the seat 210 and a tray 110 disposed in the enclosure 1010. The walls of the enclosure 1010 are formed by the passenger partition 250 and an enclosed cover 230 of the vehicle 200. The enclosed cover 250 is provided in the driver compartment 260 and forms the walls of the enclosure 1010 on three sides. The passenger partition 250 forms the fourth wall. A part of the vehicle floor 204 forms a bottom of the enclosure 1010, and the seat 210 forms a top cover of the enclosure 1010.
[020] Figure 1A and 1B illustrate the tray 110 in a perspective view, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The tray has a bottom portion 112 and side walls 114. The tray forms a first storage volume 320 and a second storage volume 310 below the first storage volume 320 within the enclosure 1010. The second storage volume 310 is configured to store a spare part of the vehicle 200. For example, spare part may be a stepney, a tool kit, and the like. In an embodiment, the profile of the bottom portion 112 runs substantially parallel to the profile of the spare part stored in the second storage volume 310.
[021] Figure 6A illustrates the tray 110 in a side view and Figure 6B illustrates the tray 110 in a sectional side view, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In an embodiment, the bottom portion 112 has a stepped profile 112p. The bottom portion 112 has a depression 112d to accommodate the spare part stored in the second storage volume 310. For example, in case of a stepney being stored in the second storage volume 310, the bottom portion 112 has the stepped profile 112p and the depression 112d. The bottom portion is shaped by manufacturing process such as moulding, forming and the like to mirror the shape of the stored stepney. This achieves maximisation of the volume in the first storage volume 320.
[022] Referring to Figure 1A, in an embodiment, the tray 110 has side flanges 120 on the side walls 114. The side flanges 120 are adapted for mounting on a seat frame 220. The tray 110 rests on the seat frame 220 by the side flanges 120. The seat frame provides support to the seat 210.
[023] Referring to Figure 1A, the storage assembly 100 includes mounting brackets (130, 140a, 140b) for detachably fixing and mounting the tray 110 within the enclosure 1010, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The mounting brackets (130, 140a, 140b) include a boltable bracket 130 provided at a rear portion of the tray 110 and a pair of brackets (140a,b) provided at a front portion of the tray 110 with respect to the vehicle direction 202. The boltable bracket 130 are bolted to the passenger partition 250 and the pair of brackets (140a,b) are welded to the seat frame 220.
[024] Referring to Figure 2, the storage assembly 100 includes locking means (240s,t) for locking the tray 110. The tray 110 has a cut-out section 520 on the side flanges 120 configured for mounting the locking means (240s,t).
[025] Figure 5 illustrates the tray 110 in a top view in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The tray 110 has handling cut-out sections (122a,b) on the side flanges 120. The handling cut-out sections (122a,b) providing for accessing and handling the tray 110. The handling cut-out sections are ergonomically designed for easy removal and handling of the tray 110 by a user when required.
[026] In an embodiment, the seat 210 is for use by a driver of the vehicle 200 while driving the vehicle 200. The enclosure 1010 is located in the driver compartment 260 under the driver while driving the vehicle 200.
[027] Figures 7A-C and Figures 8A-C illustrate various sectional views of a part of the vehicle 200, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Figure 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XSEC0001- XSEC0001 in Figure 7A, which is a top view of the vehicle 200. Figure 7C is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XSEC0002- XSEC0002 in Figure 7A. Figure 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XSEC0003- XSEC0003 in Figure 8A. Figure 8C is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XSEC0004- XSEC0004 in Figure 8A.
[028] In Figure 7B, a detailed sectional view of around the mounting brackets 140 is illustrated. The tray 110 is mounted using attachment means: a threaded nut 740 and a threaded bolt 720. The tray 110 is sandwiched between a cushioning means 730 and the mounting brackets 140, which are welded to the seat frame 220. Similarly, Figure 8C illustrates a detailed sectional view of the mounting 140 portion along the line XSEC0004- XSEC0004 in Figure 8A.
[029] Similarly, Figure 7C and Figure 8B is a detailed sectional view of a portion around the boltable bracket 130 (which is bolted to the passenger partition 250) along the respective section lines, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
[030] Advantageously, the lockable storage assembly of the invention provides the much-needed and highly desirable storage space within the vehicle at low cost and least modifications.
[031] The storage assembly provided by the invention enables storage separate and away from the other spare parts such as stepney of the vehicle by providing a separate compartment. This takes care of not only the noise, vibration and harshness issues but also improves the aesthetics and protects the utility cover and the object stored from getting soiled.