GB2576527A

GB2576527A - Component stowage system

Info

Publication number: GB2576527A
Application number: GB1813664.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Girme Saga; Ian Jamieson Philip; Trevor Iles Adrian
Original assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Current assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Priority date: 2018-08-22
Filing date: 2018-08-22
Publication date: 2020-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 2038-08-22
Also published as: GB201813664D0; GB2576527B

Abstract

Disclosed is a component stowage system 40 for a vehicle load space. It has a base portion 50 which defines a storage volume 52 and is disposable in the vehicle load space, as well as a carrier 60 configured to receive at least one component. The carrier is movably received within the storage volume of the base portion and is guided between first and second configurations within the storage volume. The base portion may include a guide slot 71 for carrier guide tabs 72 to provide a sliding configuration. This sliding configuration may at least partially raise the carrier out of the storage volume in an outboard configuration where the outboard end of the carrier is positioned lower than the inboard end. The carrier/base may be made of a unitary moulded block and/or expanded polypropylene. Also disclosed is a load space assembly with the abovementioned component stowage system, as well as a vehicle with said assembly. The load space may be a boot/trunk with a load floor, below which the component stowage system is stored. The stowage system may at least in part support the load floor.

Description

COMPONENT STOWAGE SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a component stowage system for a vehicle load space. Particularly, but not exclusively, the disclosure relates to a vehicle load space component stowage system. Aspects of the invention relate to a component stowage system for a vehicle load space, a vehicle load space assembly, and a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Vehicles have a load space in which items may be stored. Such a load space is typically at the rear of the vehicle and is generally known as a ‘trunk’ or a ‘boot’ area of the vehicle. A load floor is provided in the load space on which items may be placed. The load floor divides the vehicle load space into an upper section above the load floor and a lower section below the load floor. It is known to store items such as a toolkit and emergency equipment in the lower section, below the load floor.

When the load floor is removed or otherwise moved out of the way, for example by way of pivoting, the items stored in the lower section are accessible. Such items are typically disposed in a moulded plastic or other material holder to prevent movement of the items. Given that such items must be easily accessible to a user of the vehicle they are typically retained in the lower portion of the load space at the outboard end of the load space. Items are not typically disposed at an inboard end of the load space as such a location restricts accessibility. However, such an arrangement results in unused storage volume in the lower portion of the load space being located at an inboard end of the lower portion of the load space, which is generally difficult to access. It is an aim of the present invention to mitigate disadvantages associated with the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide a component stowage system for a vehicle load space, a vehicle load space assembly, and a vehicle as claimed in the appended claims.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a component stowage system for a vehicle load space, the component stowage system comprising a base portion configured to be disposed in the vehicle load space, the base portion defining a storage volume; and a carrier configured to receive at least one component; the carrier being movably received within the storage volume; wherein the base portion is configured to guide the carrier between a first configuration within the storage volume and a second configuration within the storage volume.

With such an arrangement, it is possible to arrange the carrier and the unused storage volume according to a user’s needs. As such, the relative locations of the unused storage volume and the carrier may be adjusted within the load space depending on the user’s requirements without loss of storage volume.

The carrier may be configured to slide within the storage volume between the first configuration and the second configuration.

As such, the carrier may be easily manoeuvred.

The base portion may comprise a surround which defines the storage volume.

The component stowage system may comprise a sliding configuration between the carrier and the base portion.

As such, the carrier may be easily guided in the storage volume.

The sliding configuration may comprise a guide tab in the base portion and a corresponding guide slot on the carrier. The sliding configuration may comprise a guide tab in the carrier and a corresponding guide slot on the base portion.

The sliding configuration may be configured to guide the carrier between an inboard configuration in which the carrier is fully received within the storage volume and an outboard configuration in which the carrier is at least partially raised out of the storage volume. In this manner, when in the outboard configuration the carrier may be raised to a more convenient height for accessing items disposed therein.

The sliding configuration may be configured such that when in the outboard configuration, an outboard end of the carrier is position lower than an inboard end of the carrier. In this manner, when in the outboard configuration the carrier may be angled such that items disposed within the carrier are effectively presented to a user.

The base portion may be an expanded polypropylene block.

The base portion may be a unitary moulded block.

The carrier may be an expanded polypropylene block.

The carrier may be a unitary moulded block.

With such arrangements, the stowage system may be manufactured in a simple and time efficient manner.

The surround may define an opening through which the carrier is accessible, wherein the at least one component carried by the carrier is accessible through the opening and the carrier extends to or is recessed from the opening.

When received in the vehicle load space, the surround may be configured to conform with a periphery of the vehicle load space.

The storage volume may therefore be maximised.

When disposed in the vehicle load space, the carrier may be configured to move in a forward-rearward direction.

The carrier may be removably received by the base portion.

The component stowage system may comprise a removal slot intersecting the guide slot in the base portion, the removal slot being configured to allow the corresponding guide tab on the carrier to be removably received in the guide slot.

The guide tab may be configured to be slidable along the removal slot when carrier is between the first configuration and the second configuration within the storage volume.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a load space assembly for a vehicle comprising the component stowage system as described above.

When disposed in the vehicle load space, the component stowage system may be disposed below the load floor.

The component stowage system may be configured to support the load floor.

The load floor may comprise a first floor portion and a second floor portion. The second floor portion may be movable relative to the first floor portion to provide access to the storage volume.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle comprising at least one of a component stowage system as described above, and a load space assembly as described above.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle including a load space with a load floor component stowage system;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the vehicle of Figure 1 with the load floor omitted and showing a component stowage system.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the component stowage system;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the component stowage system in a first configuration;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the component stowage system in a second configuration; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the component stowage system in an intermediate configuration.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate an alternative embodiment of a load floor component stowage system.

Figure 9 illustrates a further alternative embodiment of a load floor component stowage system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle 10. In the following description the term “front” refers to components towards the front of the vehicle and the term “rear” refers to components towards the rear of the vehicle. The terms “forward” and “rearward” shall be construed accordingly. The configuration of features may be construed relatively to other component, for example a forward component may be disposed on a forward side of another component, but towards the rear of the vehicle. Similarly, the term “inboard” refers to components etc. located towards the central interior of the vehicle and the term “outboard” refers to components located towards the exterior of the vehicle.

A vehicle 10 comprises a vehicle body 11 and a passenger cabin 12. The vehicle 10 has a front end 13 and a rear end 14. Access closures are defined in the vehicle body 11. A rearward access closure or tailgate 15 is provided at the rear end 14 of the vehicle 10. The rearward access closure 15 closes a rearward access opening 16 which provides access to a load space 20.

The load space 20 of the vehicle 10 is also typically known as the “boot” or “trunk” of the vehicle 10. The load space 20 in the illustrated embodiment is at the rear end 14 of the vehicle 10, and is defined from the passenger cabin 12 by passenger seating 17. However, it 5 will be understood that an alternative feature may separate the load space 20 and the passenger cabin 12. The load space 20 is defined by the vehicle body 11. The load space 20 is partially defined by internal body panels 21. The internal body panels 21 define peripheral sides of the load space 20.

A load floor 30 is received in the load space 20. In Figure 1, the load floor 30 is shown in configuration, whereas in Figure 2 the load floor 30 is shown removed from the load space

20. The load floor 30 may be removable from the load space 20. The load floor 30 may be manipulated in the load space 20 to provide access to space below the load floor 30. The load floor 30 extends across the load space 20 in a load configuration, for example as shown in Figure 1. The load floor 30 extends along a horizontal plane in the load configuration. The load floor 30 divides the load space into an upper load space section 21 and a lower space section 22. The upper load space section 21 is defined above the load floor 30 and the lower load space section 22 is defined below the load floor 30 when the load floor 30 is in its load configuration. The load floor 30 may be divided into hinged portions, for example first portion 31 and second portion 32, such that the portions 31,32 are moveable relative to each other to allow access to the lower load space section 22 without a need to remove the entire load floor 30 from the load space 20. In addition, or alternatively, the load floor 30 may be removable in part or in its entirety from the load space 20.

The load space 20 has a load space peripheral wall 23 and a load space base 24. A rearward scuff plate 25 is at a rearward end of the load space 20. The rearward access opening 16 is above the scuff plate 25. The load floor 30 extends horizontally in the load space 20. The term “horizontal” is used herein to mean a plane which extends parallel to the plane of the surface on which the vehicle 10 is located in normal operation.

A load space assembly 27 is received in the load space 20. The load space assembly 27 comprises the load floor 30 and a component stowage system 40. The component stowage system 40 is disposed below the load floor 30 in the load space 20. The component stowage system 40 is received in the lower load space section 22, and is accessible when the load floor 30 is removed or manoeuvred in the load space 20. In some embodiments, at least a part of the load floor 30 is supported by the component stowage system 40.

The component stowage system 40 extends across the extent of the lower load space section 22. Alternatively, the component stowage system 40 may extend across part of the lower load space section 22 only.

The component stowage system 40 is shown in detail in Figures 3 to 6 and comprises a base portion 50 and a carrier 60. The base portion 50 is configured to be received in the lower load space section 22 and includes a surround 51. The surround 51 defines a storage volume 52. The surround 51 has an outer peripheral wall 53. The outer peripheral wall 53 corresponds generally to the extent of the lower load space section 22. An outer surface 54 of the surround 51 is configured to be disposed against the load space peripheral wall 23. The base portion 50 is configured to be retained in the lower load space 22. Fixtures, such as retainers or clips, may be used to retain the base portion 50. Alternatively, or in addition to, the base portion 50 may be push fitted in the lower load space section 22. The surround 51 defines the storage volume 52 between a surround base 56 and a surround rim 57. The surround 51 has an inner peripheral surface 55. The inner peripheral surface 55 includes an inboard face 55a, a outboard face 55b and side faces 55c.

In the illustrated embodiment, the base portion 50 is formed as a block. The base portion 50 may be formed from expanded polypropylene. The base portion 50 may be formed as a unitary moulded block, although it will be understood that alternative arrangements are possible.

The carrier 60 is configured to be received in the storage volume 52. The carrier 60 is moveable within the storage volume 52. The carrier 60 is configured to be received by the base portion 50. The base portion 50 is configured to guide the carrier 60 between a first configuration within the storage volume 52 and a second configuration within the storage volume 52. In Figure 4, the carrier 60 is shown in the first, inboard, configuration; in Figure 5 the carrier 60 is shown in the second, outboard, configuration; and in Figure 6 the carrier 60 is shown in a third, intermediate, configuration.

The carrier 60 is configured to slide within the storage volume 52. The height of the carrier 60 corresponds generally to the height of the base portion 50 between the surround base 56 and the surround rim 57. As such, the carrier 60 may be fully received by the base portion 50. In the illustrated embodiment, the carrier 60 comprises a block 61. The block 61 may be formed from expanded polypropylene. In some embodiments, the carrier 60 may be formed 7 as a unitary moulded block, although alternative arrangements are possible. The carrier 60 has an underside 62 and an upper face 63.

One or more component recesses 67 is/are formed by the carrier 60 in which one or more components (not shown) may be held. Components (not shown) are received in the component recesses 67 and may be securely retained. The component recesses 67 may be configured to correspond to the shape of the component(s) disposed therein. The number of component recesses 67 may vary, with five component recesses being shown in the figures. Retaining ribs 68 protrude into the component recesses to aid retention of the components in the component recesses 67. Other retention means may be used or omitted. The component recesses 67 are open to the upper face 63 of the carrier 60. The component recesses 67 may be formed during moulding of the block 61.

The carrier 60 has inboard and outboard carrier ends 65, 66. Carrier side faces 64 extend between the inboard and outboard ends 65, 66. The component stowage system comprises a sliding configuration 70 between the base portion 50 and the carrier 60. The carrier 60 is configured to slide within the storage volume 52, and the sliding configuration is configured to guide movement of the carrier 60.

The sliding configuration 70 comprises a guide slot 71 within each side face 55c of the base portion 50 and corresponding guide tab 72 arrangement provided on each side face 64 of the carrier 60. Each guide tab 72 is configured to slide within the corresponding guide slot 71 to guide movement of the carrier 60 within the storage volume 52. As shown in Figure 3, each side face 55c comprises a guide slot 71 formed therein. The guide slot 71 is linear. The guide slot 71 extends in a forward-rearward direction. The guide slot 71 extends horizontally when the component stowage system 40 is received in the load space 20. The guide slot 71 is a channel formed in the base portion 50, although it should be appreciated that the guide slot 71 may extend through the base portion 50.

In some embodiments, a removal slot 73 extends from each guide slot 71 to the surround rim 57. The removal slot 73 extends perpendicular to the guide slot 71, although the removal slot 73 may extend at another transverse angle. The removal slot 73 intersects the guide slot 71. The guide slot 71 is configured to receive and guide the corresponding guide tab 72. The guide tab 72 extends from the carrier 60. The guide tabs 72 arranged on each carrier side face 64 on opposing sides of the carrier 60. As shown in the figures, the carrier 60 has one 8 guide tab 72 on each side face 64. The number of guide tabs 72 may vary. The removal slot 73 is disposed at an intermediate configuration along each guide slot 71. To assemble the carrier 60 and base portion 50, the guide tabs 72 on each side of the carrier 60 are aligned with the removal slots 73 and are slid therealong into the guide slot 71. The guide tabs 72 are then free to slide along the corresponding guide slots 71 in which the guide tabs 72 are received. The carrier side faces 64 align against the surround side faces 55c to align the carrier 60 and enable ease of movement of the carrier 60 in the stowage volume 52. Ends of the guide slots 71 act as end stops.

During assembly of the load space assembly 27 in the load space 20, the base portion 50 and carrier 60 may be preassembled and then inserted into the load space 20. Alternatively the base portion 50 may be received in the load space 20 and the carrier 60 may then be received in the stowage volume 52 of the base portion 50.

The carrier 60 may be supported in the load space by the sliding configuration 70, and by the load space base 24. Alternatively, the carrier 60 may be supported by one or the other of these features. For example, the sliding configuration 70 might act purely as a guide and may not carry any of the load of the carrier 60.

Once assembled in the load space 20, the component stowage system 40 is able to carry components in the carrier 60. Components are received by the carrier 60 and are generally configured to be recessed below the plane of the upper face 63. During normal use, the carrier 60 may be configurationed in the first, inboard configuration as shown in Figures 2 and 4. Further components or items may be disposed in the stowage volume 52 between the carrier 60 and the outboard end of the component stowage system 40. With such a configuration, it is possible to retain additional components or items within the lower load space section 22.

When it is desired to access components retained by the carrier 60, any components in the remaining stowage volume 52 at the outboard end may be removed from the stowage volume 52 and the carrier 60 may be drawn in an outboard direction into the second, outboard configuration as shown in Figure 5. The sliding configuration 70 aids movement of the carrier 60 within the stowage volume 52. As such, it is possible to easily access components stored by the carrier 60, but enables space not used by the carrier 60 to be used as an additional storage space during normal use which is also easily accessible by a user accessing the load space via the rearward access opening 16.

Should it be desired to remove the carrier 60 from the lower load space section 22 it is possible to move the carrier 60 into the third, intermediate configuration as shown in Figure

6. In this configuration, the carrier 60 can be lifted such that the guide tabs 72 can slide along the removal slots 73 to remove the carrier 60 from the stowage volume 52. By configurationing the removal slots 73 in an intermediate configuration it is possible to restrict inadvertent removal of the carrier 60 from the stowage volume 52.

The carrier 60 is accessible by an opening 58 at the upper edge of the base portion 50 to allow easy access to components carried by the carrier 60. The carrier 60 extends to or is recessed from the opening 58 to allow the load floor to be easily mounted in the load space

20.

The carrier is also removably received by the base portion 50. This allows the carrier 60 to be interchangeable, for example if alternative components are required to be carried in the lower load space section 22.

As described above, when the load space assembly 27 including the component stowage system 40 and the load floor 30 are received by the load space, it is possible to obtain access to the component stowage system 40 by moving the first floor portion 31 of the load floor 30 relative to the second floor portion 32. As such, the load floor allows access to the stowage volume 52, and also to the carrier 60 without the need to remove the entire load floor 30. By providing a slideable carrier 60 the section of load floor 30 that is needed to be moved relative to another section is minimised.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the component stowage system 40. In the alternative embodiment illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the sliding configuration 70 comprises a first, inboard, guide slot 71a and a second, outboard, guide slot 71b within each side face 55c of the base portion 50, and corresponding guide tabs 72 (not illustrated in Figures 7 and 8) provided on each side face 64 of the carrier 60. Each guide tab 72 is configured to slide within the corresponding guide slot 71a, 71b to guide movement of the carrier 60 within the storage volume 52.

As shown in Figure 7, each guide slot 71a, 71b comprises a first, inboard section 81 that, in the illustrated embodiment, extends generally horizontally in a forward-rearward direction when the component stowage system 40 is received in the load space 20. A second section 82 of each guide slot 71a, 71b extends, at an obtuse angle a in the illustrated embodiment, from a rear end 81a of the first section 81 towards the surround rim 57.

In a first, inboard, configuration, each tab 72 is received within the first section 81 of the respective guide slot 71a, 71b. The tabs 72 and first sections 81 of the guide slots 71a, 71b are configured such that, in the inboard configuration, the carrier 60 is fully received within the storage volume 52 defined by the base portion 50. In the inboard configuration, the carrier 60 extends to or is recessed from the opening 58 at the upper edge of the base portion 50 to allow the load floor to be mounted in the load space 20 above the carrier 60.

As the carrier 60 is moved outboard within the storage volume 52 from the inboard configuration, each tab 72 transitions from the rear end 81a of the first section 81 of the respective guide slot 71a, 71b to a first end 82a of the second section 82 of the respective guide slot 71a, 71b. Continued outboard movement of the carrier 60 results in the tabs 72 sliding up the second sections 82 of the guide slots 71a, 71b, causing the carrier to rise up out of the storage volume 52 as it is moved outboard. In this manner, moving the carrier 60 from the inboard configuration to an outboard configuration results in the carrier 60 not just moving in an outboard direction towards the rearward access opening 16, but also being raised out of the storage volume 52 to a more convenient height for accessing items disposed therein.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, each guide slot 71a, 71b comprises a third section 83 that, in the illustrated embodiment, extends from an upper end 82b of respective second section 82 generally horizontally in a forward-rearward direction when the component stowage system 40 is received in the load space 20. The third section 83 is provided at a height within the respective side face 55c that is raised relative to the first section. In the illustrated embodiment the third section 83 extends along an upper edge of the the respective side face 55c such that the tabs 72 are able to lifted out of the guide slots 71a, 71b when within the third sections 83.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the second, outboard, guide slot 71b further comprises a fourth section 84 that extends down from a rear end 83a of the third section 83 11 of the second guide slot 71b. In this manner, when the carrier 60 is moved to a second, rearmost configuration within the base portion 50, the rearmost tabs 72 are able to drop down the fourth section 84 of the second guide slot 71b, thereby causing the outboard end 66 of the carrier 60 to be position lower than the inboard end 65 of the carrier 60. As a result, the carrier 60 is angled as illustrated in Figure 8, effectively presenting items disposed within the carrier 60 to a user.

Figure 9 illustrates a further alternative embodiment of the component stowage system 40. In the further alternative embodiment illustrated in Figure 9, the sliding configuration 70 again comprises a first, inboard, guide slot 71a and a second, outboard, guide slot 71b within each side face 55c of the base portion 50, and corresponding guide tabs 72 provided on each side face 64 of the carrier 60. Each guide tab 72 is configured to slide within the corresponding guide slot 71a, 71b to guide movement of the carrier 60 within the storage volume 52.

The first, inboard, guide slot 71a in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 9 is substantially the same as the first, inboard, guide slot 71a of Figures 7 and 8. However, the second, outboard guide slot 71b of Figure 9 comprises a first section 91 that, in the illustrated embodiment, extends generally horizontally in a forward-rearward direction when the component stowage system 40 is received in the load space 20. The first section 91 extends such that the respective guide tab 72 is slidably received therein between the inboard (foremost) configuration and the rearmost configuration. In this manner, as the carrier 60 is moved outboard within the storage volume 52 from the inboard configuration to the rearmost configuration, the first, inboard, guide slots 71a cause the inboard end of the carrier 60 to be lifted up as it is moved outboard, whilst the outboard end of the carrier 60 remains down within the storage volume 52. As a result, as the carrier 60 is moved into the outboard configuration, the carrier 60 is angled as illustrated in Figure 8, effectively presenting items disposed within the carrier 60 to a user.

It will be understood that the components that may be carried by the carrier 60 may vary. For example, the carrier 60 may be configured to carry breakdown and emergency equipment, tire repair kits, and other tools.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications 12 to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. For example, embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to a component stowage system for a vehicle load space accessible via a rearward access opening 16. However, it is contemplated that alternative embodiments may comprise a component stowage system for a vehicle load space accessible via, for example, a forward access opening 16. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that references to forward, foremost, rearward, rearmost, etc. may be required to be inverted for such embodiments relating to a component stowage system for a vehicle load space accessible via a forward access opening.

Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described.

Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features, whether described or not.

Although features have been described with reference to certain embodiments, those features may also be present in other embodiments whether described or not.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance, it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A component stowage system for a vehicle load space, the component stowage system comprising:

a base portion configured to be disposed in the vehicle load space , the base portion defining a storage volume ; and a carrier configured to receive at least one component;

the carrier being movably received within the storage volume ;

wherein the base portion is configured to guide the carrier between a first configuration within the storage volume and a second configuration within the storage volume .

2. The component stowage system of claim 1, wherein the carrier is configured to slide within the storage volume between the first configuration and the second configuration.

3. The component stowage system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the base portion comprises a surround which defines the storage volume.

4. The component stowage system of any preceding claim, comprising a sliding configuration between the carrier and the base portion.

5. The component stowage system of claim 4, wherein the sliding configuration comprises a guide slot in the base portion and a corresponding guide tab on the carrier.

6. The component stowage system of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the sliding configuration is configured to guide the carrier between an inboard configuration in which the carrier is fully received within the storage volume and an outboard configuration in which the carrier is at least partially raised out of the storage volume .

7. The component stowage system of claim 6, wherein the sliding configuration is configured such that when in the outboard configuration, an outboard end of the carrier is position lower than an inboard end of the carrier.

8. The component stowage system of any preceding claim, wherein the base portion comprises an expanded polypropylene block.

9. The component stowage system of any preceding, wherein the base portion comprises a unitary moulded block.

10. The component stowage system of any preceding claim, wherein the carrier comprises an expanded polypropylene block.

11. The component stowage system of any preceding claim, wherein the carrier comprises a unitary moulded block.

12. The component stowage system of any preceding claim, wherein the base portion defines an opening through which the carrier is accessible when received within the storage volume, and the carrier extends to or is recessed from the opening when received within the storage volume.

13. The component stowage system of Claim 12, wherein the carrier comprises at least one component recess for receiving the at least one component, and the at least one component recess is accessible through the opening defined by the base portion when the carrier is received within the storage volume. .

14. The component stowage system of any preceding claim, wherein, when received in the vehicle load space, the base portion is configured to conform with a periphery of the vehicle load space.

15. The component stowage system of any preceding claim, wherein the carrier is removably received by the base portion..

16. The component stowage system of claim 15, when dependent on claim 5, comprising a removal slot intersecting the guide slot in the base portion, the removal slot being configured to allow the corresponding guide tab on the carrier to be removably received in the guide slot.

17. The component stowage system of claim 16, wherein the guide tab is configured to be slidable along the removal slot when the carrier is between the first configuration and the second configuration within the storage volume.

18. A load space assembly for a vehicle comprising the component stowage system according to any preceding claim.

5

19. The load space assembly of claim 18, comprising a load floor, wherein, when disposed in the vehicle load space, the component stowage system is disposed below the load floor.

20. The load space assembly of claim 19, wherein the component stowage system is 10 configured to support at least a part of the load floor.

21. The load space assembly of any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the load floor comprises a first floor portion and a second floor portion, wherein the second floor portion is movable relative to the first floor portion to provide access to the storage volume.

22. A vehicle comprising at least one of a component stowage system of any of claims 1 to 15, and a load space assembly of any of claims 16 to 19.