A VEHICLE AND AN ELECTRONIC COVERING ARRANGEMENT FOR A SLIDING DOOR OF THE SAME

Abstract

The present disclosure discloses a vehicle. The vehicle (100) comprises at least two doors (116) which are functionally attached to a body structure (112). Each door (116) comprises a connection (116a) designed to slide within a corresponding guide channel (118) defined on the body structure (112) during the opening and closing of the door (116). An electronic cover arrangement (200) comprises a cover element (202) designed to cover the opening defined by the guide channel (118). At least two guide elements (204a, 204b) are attached to the inner panel (112b) of the body structure. Each guide element is configured to movably connect the cover element (202) to the inner panel (112b). An actuator (206) is functionally connected to the cover element (202) by a connection mechanism.The actuator (206) is configured to move the cover element (202) from an actuated position to a standard position to enable the closing of the guide channel (118).

Description

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of automobiles. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an electronic cover arrangement for a vehicle. Further embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a body structure for a van mounted with the electronic cover arrangement. Vehicle manufacturers are constantly refining their processes and systems to produce vehicles with greater utility and efficiency for their customers and users. Vehicle manufacturing always demands precision and a high level of aesthetic appeal that meets customer expectations for a quality product and its delivery reliability. Various components, such as the body frame, doors, suspension, and powertrain components, are manufactured from metals or alloys due to safety and performance requirements. Today, vehicle manufacturers are rapidly transitioning to producing vehicles with high safety standards to ensure the safety of passengers and the driver. Vehicle manufacturers are also focusing on vehicle aesthetics, incorporating additional functionalities to facilitate various operations and enhance the vehicle's appearance. One such feature is the sliding door system, particularly for vans. Sliding doors are the rear passenger doors of minivans, where they open with the push of a button inside the vehicle. There may be multiple switches, but generally, there is one at each door and another near the driver's seat. In some cases, the door handle is used as the trigger. These doors are designed to save time and effort. They also make the van more accessible for families with elderly or disabled members. Sliding doors have a grooved track on the vehicle's body that engages with the frame.These rails on the vehicle's bodywork are not aesthetically pleasing and usually fill up over time with environmental contaminants such as dirt and water. Vehicle manufacturers have sought, proposed, and implemented various solutions to address the aforementioned problems. Recently, they have developed various mechanisms for opening van sliding doors that conceal the notch on the vehicle, but they have not been able to find a solution that achieves this. Furthermore, implementing such mechanisms makes the entire assembly process complex and cumbersome. One of the existing sliding door arrangements for a vehicle is disclosed in German patent application DE102006043818A1 [hereinafter referred to as Publication '818']. Publication '818' discloses a sliding door arrangement for a van. The arrangement comprises a sliding door and a sliding unit movable along a guide rail. The sliding unit is designed as a locking device for additionally locking the sliding door, wherein the sliding unit is to be locked in a locking position in the rail. Locking recesses are provided in the rail for locking the sliding unit in the locking position. In the locking position, the sliding unit rests in a door edge of the sliding door. The sliding unit is arranged in a side wall of the rail and is moved along the rail independently of the door.However, publication '818 does not reveal any means of covering the body in white (BIW), especially the center rail cover on the BIW. The present disclosure aims to overcome one or more of the above-mentioned limitations or other limitations associated with the prior art. One or more shortcomings of conventional vehicles are overcome, and additional benefits are provided by a vehicle with a cover arrangement. The present disclosure relates to a vehicle, preferably a van, having at least two sliding doors for a passenger compartment. The vehicle may have two front doors connected by hinges to a body structure of the vehicle, preferably to an A-frame of the body structure. The front doors are provided for a passenger and a driver seated in a first row of seats in the passenger compartment. In an exemplary embodiment, the vehicle includes two sliding doors arranged behind the two front doors. The two sliding doors may alternatively be referred to as "rear doors" or simply as "doors" of the vehicle. The body structure between the C- and D-pillars has a cutout, slot, or guide channel designed to slidably receive a connection linked to a rear portion of the door.The vehicle according to the present disclosure includes an electronic or automated covering arrangement designed to cover the cutout, slot, or guide channel. The covering arrangement comprises an electronically actuated covering element that fits flush into the guide channel, resulting in an aesthetically pleasing appearance of the body structure, as the cutout / guide channel is not visible to the user when the door is in a closed position. Furthermore, the covering element also prevents the ingress or accumulation of dust particles, moisture, or other foreign matter into the opening or gap defined by the guide channel, which in turn increases the service life of the door or the connection associated with the door. Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Further embodiments and aspects of the present disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered part of the claimed disclosure. In a non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle comprises a chassis with provisions for facilitating the mounting of at least two front ground-engaging elements and at least two rear ground-engaging elements. The vehicle comprises a drive unit mounted on the chassis, configured to supply energy to at least one of the front ground-engaging elements and the rear ground-engaging elements. The vehicle further comprises a body structure mounted on the vehicle's chassis and at least two doors functionally attached to the body structure. Each door includes a connection designed to slide into a corresponding guide channel defined on an outer plate of the body structure during the opening and closing of the door.The vehicle includes an electronic cover assembly configured to cover the guide channel when the door is in a closed position. The cover assembly includes a cover element designed to cover an opening defined by the guide channel when the door is in the closed position. The cover assembly includes at least two guide elements attached to an inner panel of the body structure; each guide element is configured to movably connect the cover element to the inner panel. The cover assembly further includes an actuator attached to the inner panel of the body structure; the actuator is operatively connected to the cover element via a linkage mechanism.The actuator is configured to move the cover element from an actuated position to a standard position to allow the guide channel to close during the movement of the door from an open position to the closed position. In one embodiment, the connecting mechanism comprises a disk that is fixedly attached to an output shaft of the actuator. The disk includes an eccentric shaft extending from an outer surface of the disk. The connecting mechanism further comprises a slide that has a slot in an intermediate region of the slide. The slot is suitable for receiving the eccentric shaft. The connecting mechanism includes at least two connecting rods arranged at the respective ends of the slide to functionally connect the slide to the cover element. The rotary motion of the actuator, in particular the actuator's output shaft, is transmitted to the disk.The rotational movement of the disc is then transferred to the cover element, enabling the vertical movement of the cover element via the eccentric shaft, which is slidably coupled to the slider. The slider is rigidly connected to the cover element by at least two connecting rods. The number of connecting rods can vary depending on the length of the slider or the length of the cover element to which the slider is connected. In one embodiment, the actuator is a stepper motor configured to rotate the disk at a predefined angle, whereby the disk and slider assembly controls the vertical movement of the cover element between the standard position and the actuated position. In one embodiment, the cover element is adapted to be received in a gap defined between the inner plate and the outer plate of the body structure when the cover element is in the actuated position. In one embodiment, the cover element comprises at least two arms extending from two ends of the cover element, such that each arm is movably connected to the respective guide element of the at least two guide elements. In one embodiment, the at least two guide elements are a first guide element and a second guide element, such that each guide element is defined with a curved guide slot. In one embodiment, the respective arm of the at least two arms is adapted so that it is movably received in the curved guide slot of the corresponding guide element in order to enable a vertical angular movement of the cover element. In one embodiment, the vehicle includes a switch located in a passenger compartment of the vehicle, such that actuation of the switch actuates the actuator to move the cover element from the standard position to the actuated position. In one embodiment, the switch is communicatively connected to a drive motor of the door to enable the automatic movement of the door from the closed position to the open position as soon as the cover element has been moved into the actuated position. In one embodiment, each of the at least two doors is an electronic sliding door of the vehicle. In one embodiment, the at least two guide elements are firmly connected to the inner plate by means of fastening elements. In one embodiment, the cover element is defined with a length corresponding to the length of the guide channel and is fitted flush into the guide channel. It is understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above can be used in any combination. Several of the aspects and embodiments can be combined to form a further embodiment of the disclosure. The figures show embodiments of the present disclosure for illustrative purposes only. The disclosure itself, as well as its uses, further objectives, and advantages, are best understood by referring to the following detailed description of an embodiment, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where identical reference numerals represent identical elements and in which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective side view of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 2 shows a perspective rear view of an electronic cover assembly in the standard position mounted on the vehicle of Fig. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 3 shows a perspective rear view of the electronic cover assembly from Fig. 2 in an actuated position according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig.Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the electronic cover arrangement of Figure 2, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 5(a) shows a perspective side view of a part of the vehicle from Figure 1 with a door in a closed position according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 5(b) shows a perspective side view of a part of the vehicle from Figure 5(a), wherein the door is in the open position and a cover element of the cover arrangement is in an intermediate position, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; and Figure 5(c) shows a perspective side view of a part of the vehicle from Figure 1 with a door in an open position according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The novel features and properties of the disclosure are set forth in the attached claims. While the embodiments in the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments are shown by way of example in the figures and are described below. It should be noted that those skilled in the art will be motivated by the present disclosure to modify a vehicle, preferably a vehicle body structure, or more preferably an electronic cover arrangement of a vehicle, which may vary from vehicle to vehicle. Accordingly, the drawings show only those specific details that are important for understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure, so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that are readily apparent to those skilled in the art with ordinary knowledge of the field who benefit from the present description. The terms “includes,” “comprising,” or other variations thereof, used in the disclosure, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that an arrangement comprising a list of components may contain not only those components but also other components not expressly listed or belonging to such an arrangement. In other words, one or more elements in an arrangement or device that is continued with “includes… a” does not, without further limitations, exclude the presence of other elements or additional elements in the system or device. Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a vehicle, in particular an electronic cover arrangement for a vehicle or a cover arrangement connected to a vehicle body structure. In a preferred embodiment, the vehicle is a van. The electronic cover arrangement may include a cover element designed to cover an opening defined by a guide channel formed in the vehicle body structure. The guide channel is defined, in particular, in a section of the body structure located between the C- and D-pillars. The cover element also prevents the ingress or accumulation of dust particles, moisture, or other foreign matter into the opening or gap defined by the guide channel, which in turn increases the service life of the door or the connection associated with the door.The cover element is fitted flush into the guide channel, so that the cover element and the section of the body structure defined between the C- and D-pillars are aligned on the same plane. This results in an aesthetically pleasing appearance, as the cutout / guide channel is not visible to the user when the door is closed. The cover element is actuated electronically by an actuator, preferably a stepper motor, but this is not limited to this. Alternatively, other actuation devices, such as hydraulic or pneumatic systems, can be used to move the cover element from a standard position to an actuated position, or vice versa. Electronic actuation of the cover element offers improved convenience and precise positioning of the cover element, both in its standard and actuated positions. The vehicle may comprise a frame or chassis configured to support the vehicle's body structure, including the vehicle's components – power generation units, air conditioning systems, exhaust systems (for internal combustion engine vehicles), and the like. The chassis is provided to allow the mounting of at least two front ground-engaging elements and at least two rear ground-engaging elements. The vehicle includes a power unit mounted on the chassis, configured to supply energy to at least one of the front ground-engaging elements and at least one of the rear ground-engaging elements. The front ground-engaging elements may alternatively be referred to as the "front wheels," and similarly, the rear ground-engaging elements may alternatively be referred to as the "rear wheels" of the vehicle.The vehicle can comprise a front section, a middle section, and a rear section, such that the energy generation unit and other associated components are mounted on the front or middle section of the vehicle. The energy generation unit is preferably covered by a body panel of the vehicle. Furthermore, the front body section of the vehicle includes at least two headlights mounted on the vehicle frame to provide illumination while driving in dark environments. The energy generation unit can be an internal combustion engine configured to generate energy by burning hydrocarbons as fuel, such as gasoline, diesel, and the like. Alternatively, the energy generation unit can be a traction motor powered by a high-voltage battery that supplies the vehicle's traction motor with electrical current. The traction motor is coupled to the front wheels, rear wheels, or all wheels of the vehicle to propel it. Vehicles powered by the traction motor are referred to as electric vehicles. The console system disclosed in this disclosure can be installed in any type of vehicle as disclosed herein, without being limited to such vehicles. The intermediate section of the vehicle comprises the passenger compartment or cabin, which extends from the front to the rear of the vehicle. The passenger compartment may contain a cabin with multiple seats to accommodate passengers or the driver. It also includes a steering system for maneuvering the vehicle in a desired direction, and a dashboard equipped with various buttons, switches, displays, and similar components to operate vehicle functions and enhance both the aesthetics and comfort of the driver and passengers. The rear section of the vehicle may contain a trunk designed for storing luggage belonging to passengers or the driver.The rear section of the vehicle may contain a taillight configured to illuminate in various situations, such as when the brakes are applied, and similar situations. In one embodiment, the passenger compartment comprises a floor panel attached to the vehicle's frame or chassis. The passenger compartment may further include at least two rows of seats attached to the floor panel, such that each row contains at least two seats arranged side by side. The seats in the passenger compartment may be arranged back-to-back or facing each other on the floor panel. Alternatively, the seats may be movably attached to the floor panel of the passenger compartment by employing various mechanisms to enable movement, including linear and rotational movement of the seats. Each seat in the at least two rows may comprise a seat cushion and a backrest to provide support and comfort to the passenger seated there.The seat may also include a headrest, preferably a movable headrest, to support the head of the passenger sitting on the seat. The vehicle comprises at least two doors functionally attached to the body structure. In an exemplary embodiment, the vehicle comprises four doors, two on each side. The two front doors are hinged to the body structure, and the two rear doors, located behind the two front doors, are slidably connected to the body structure. The two rear doors are hereinafter referred to as "doors" or "doors". Each door comprises a connection designed to slide within a corresponding guide channel defined on an outer plate of the body structure during opening and closing. The connection provides support for the door and facilitates movement, preferably a sliding movement of the door from a closed position to an open position or vice versa. In one embodiment, the vehicle includes an electronic cover assembly configured to cover the guide channel when the door is in a closed position. The electronic cover assembly may alternatively be referred to below as the "cover assembly" or "assembly." The assembly comprises a cover element configured to cover an opening defined by the guide channel when the door is in the closed position. The cover assembly includes at least two guide elements attached to an inner panel of the body structure, each guide element configured to movably connect the cover element to the inner panel. The cover assembly further includes an actuator attached to the inner panel of the body structure. The actuator is operatively connected to the cover element by a linkage mechanism.The actuator, in conjunction with the linking mechanism, is configured to move the cover element from an actuated position to a standard position, in order to allow the guide channel to close during the movement of the door from an open position to the closed position or vice versa. In one embodiment, the connection mechanism comprises a circular element that is rigidly connected to, but not limited to, an output shaft of the actuator, preferably a stepper motor. The circular element can alternatively be referred to as a "disc" that is rigidly connected to the output shaft, such that rotation of the output shaft allows simultaneous rotation of the disc. The output shaft is configured to engage in a bore, preferably a keyway bore, defined in the center of the disc. The keyway bore is designed to engage with a plurality of teeth defined on an outer surface of the output shaft. The disc includes an eccentric shaft extending from an outer surface of the disc. An eccentric shaft can be defined as a projection extending from the outer surface and offset from the center of the disc. In one embodiment, the connecting mechanism further comprises a horizontal connection, hereinafter referred to as a "slider," which has a slot in an intermediate section of the slider. The slot is suitable for movably receiving the eccentric shaft. The connecting mechanism comprises at least two connecting rods arranged at the respective ends of the slider and configured to operatively connect the slider to the cover element, such that movement of the slider enables simultaneous movement of the cover element. In one embodiment, the actuator is a stepper motor configured to rotate the disk at a predefined angle, whereby the disk and slider assembly controls the vertical movement of the cover element between the standard position and the actuated position. The cover element comprises at least two arms extending from two ends of the cover element, such that each arm is movably connected to the respective guide element of the at least two guide elements. The at least two guide elements are a first guide element and a second guide element, such that each guide element is defined by a curved guide slot. The cover element also prevents the ingress or accumulation of dust particles, moisture or other foreign bodies into the opening or gap defined by the guide channel, which in turn increases the service life of the door or the connection associated with the door. In the following sections, the present disclosure is described with reference to Figures 1 to 5(c). In the figures, the same element or elements having similar functions are designated by the same reference numerals. By general reference to the drawings, a vehicle according to the teaching of preferred embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated and generally identified in the corresponding figures by reference numeral 100. Further features and elements of the vehicle (100) are represented by corresponding reference numerals [see list of reference numerals] in the corresponding figures and are used below according to the respective feature. The entire passenger compartment of the vehicle is not shown in the corresponding figures for a better understanding of the invention. Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein serve the purpose of description and should not be considered restrictive. Unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," "supported," and "coupled," and variations thereof, are used in the broadest sense and include both direct and indirect fastenings, connections, supports, and couplings. Furthermore, "connected" and "coupled" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.It is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific devices, methods, applications, conditions or parameters described and / or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein serves to describe certain embodiments by way of example and is not intended to limit the claimed invention. Figure 1 shows an exemplary configuration of the vehicle (100). The vehicle (100) can be defined as a passenger car, but is not limited to this. The vehicle (100) can comprise a front section (100a), a middle section (100b), and a rear section (100c). The vehicle (100) can include a chassis (not shown in the figures) that has provisions for allowing the mounting of at least two front ground engagement elements (102a, 102b) and at least two rear ground engagement elements (104a, 104b). The front ground engagement elements (102a, 102b) can alternatively be referred to as "front wheels," and likewise, the rear ground engagement elements (104a, 104b) can alternatively be referred to as "rear wheels" of the vehicle (100). Furthermore, the vehicle (100) may have more than two front ground engagement elements and more than two rear ground engagement elements, depending on the size and type of the vehicle. The vehicle (100) may include a drive unit (not shown in the figures) mounted on the chassis, configured to supply energy to at least one of the front ground engagement elements (102a, 102b) and the rear ground engagement elements (104a, 104b). The energy unit may alternatively be referred to as an energy generation unit, but this is not limited to this term. The energy generation unit and other associated components are attached to the front part (100a) of the vehicle (100). The energy generation unit is preferably covered by a hood (106) of the vehicle (100). Alternatively, the energy generation unit may be located at the rear part (100c) of the vehicle, depending on the type of vehicle, the type of energy generation unit, or the vehicle's assembly requirements / packaging restrictions.Furthermore, the front part (100a) of the vehicle (100) includes at least two headlight units (108) mounted on the chassis of the vehicle (100) to provide illumination while the vehicle (100) is driving in dark environments. The vehicle (100) may also include daytime running lights (DRL) for better illumination and detection of the vehicle in daylight or bright conditions. The intermediate section (100b) comprises a passenger compartment (110) or passenger cabin extending from the end of the front section (100a) to the beginning of the rear section (100c) of the vehicle (100). The passenger compartment (110) can define a cabin or an area with a variety of seats (not shown in the figures) to allow passengers or the driver to sit within the passenger compartment (110). The passenger compartment (110) also includes a steering system for maneuvering the vehicle (100) in a desired direction, a dashboard equipped with a variety of buttons, switches, displays, and the like for operating or activating various functions of the vehicle (100), and also to enhance the aesthetics and provide comfort to the driver or passengers seated in the passenger compartment (110).The rear section (100c) may include a trunk (not shown in the figures) suitable for storing luggage belonging to the passengers or driver seated in the vehicle (100c). The rear section (100c) of the vehicle (100) may include a taillight (not shown in the figures) configured to illuminate in various situations, such as when the brakes are applied, continuously while the vehicle is driving in dark environments when the headlight units (108) are switched on, and the like. The vehicle (100) can comprise a body structure (112) mounted on the chassis of the vehicle (100). The body structure (112) can alternatively be referred to as the "body" of the vehicle. The body structure (112) can be attached to the chassis by conventional fasteners, for example, by welding, fastening, soldering, riveting, and the like. Accordingly, the vehicle can have a body on a frame / chassis construction such as may be known for use in a passenger car or the like. However, such constructions should not be understood as limiting the present invention, since the vehicle can also have other configurations, such as a monocoque chassis, etc. The body structure (112) gives the vehicle an external appearance and at the same time ensures better aerodynamics when driving the vehicle (100).The body structure (112) is also configured to provide additional protection for the passengers sitting in the passenger compartment (110) in the event of a collision of the vehicle (100) or in other accident situations. The vehicle (100) comprises at least two doors (116) arranged on both sides, i.e., on the left and right sides of the vehicle (100). The at least two doors (116) are functionally attached to the body structure (112) of the vehicle (100). In an exemplary embodiment, the vehicle (100) comprises two front doors (114) and two rear doors (116), as shown in Fig. 1. The two front doors (114) are connected to the body structure (112) by a plurality of hinges (not shown in the figures). The rear doors (116) are slidably connected to the body structure (112) of the vehicle (100). The rear doors (116) may be referred to below as "doors" or "at least two doors".The body structure (112) is defined in the present disclosure in particular as a part of the body structure which is arranged between a C-pillar and a D-pillar of the vehicle (100), but is not limited to these. With reference to Fig. 5(c), each door (116), i.e., the rear door (116), comprises a connection (116a) that is connected to a rear end or rear section of the door (116). The connection (116a) can be connected or coupled to the door (116) by conventional connecting or coupling means, e.g., by fasteners, but is not limited to this. The connection (116a) is designed to be received in a sliding manner in a corresponding guide channel (118) defined on an outer plate (112a) of the body structure (112) during the opening and closing of the door (116). The connection (116a) enables a frictionless sliding movement of the door (116) along at least two rails (not shown in the figures) arranged on the upper and lower sections of the body structure (112). The guide channel (118) can extend parallel to the floor of the vehicle and along a straight line.In other words, the guide channel can extend along the length of the vehicle (100). The guide channel (118) is defined between the C- and D-pillars of the vehicle (100), preferably the body structure (112) of the vehicle (100). The door (116) is designed to perform a sliding movement relative to the body structure (112) to allow the opening and closing of the door (116). Each of the at least two doors (116) is, but is not limited to, an electronic sliding door (116) of the vehicle (100). In one embodiment, the vehicle (100) comprises an electronic cover assembly (200) configured to cover the guide channel (118) when the door (116) is in a closed position, as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 5(a). The electronic cover assembly may hereinafter be referred to as the “cover assembly” or “assembly.” The assembly (200) comprises a cover element (202) designed to cover an opening defined by the guide channel (118) when the door (116) is in the closed position, as shown in Fig. 5(a). The cover element (202) may alternatively be referred to, without limitation, as a closure, housing, flap, cover, plate, or the like. The cover element (202) may have dimensions that are substantially equal to, but preferably smaller than, the dimensions of the guide channel (118).In one embodiment, the cover element (202) is defined with a length corresponding to the length of the guide channel (118) and is fitted flush into the guide channel (118). The cover assembly (200) can comprise at least two guide elements (204a, 204b) attached to an inner plate (112b) of the body structure (112), as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Each guide element is configured to movably connect the cover element (202) to the inner plate (112b). The number of guide elements (204a, 204b) can vary depending on the shape and size of the cover element (202) and other physical parameters of the cover element (202). The cover element (202) comprises at least two arms (202a, 202b) extending from two ends of the cover element (202). The number of arms (202a, 202b) should be equal to the number of guide elements (204a, 204b). In an exemplary embodiment, the cover assembly (200) comprises two guide elements (204a, 204b) configured to movably receive the corresponding two arms (202a, 202b) of the cover element (202), such that each arm is movably connected to the respective guide element of the at least two guide elements (204a, 204b). The at least two guide elements (204a, 204b) are a first guide element (204a) and a second guide element (204b), such that each guide element is defined by a curved guide slot designed to receive the corresponding arm extending from the respective ends of the cover element (202). The respective arm of the at least two arms (202a, 202b) is designed to be movably received in the curved guide slot of the corresponding guide element in order to allow a vertical angular movement of the cover element (202).The at least two guide elements (204a, 204b) are firmly connected to the inner plate (112b) of the body structure (112) via fastening elements (214). With reference to Fig. 4 and according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the cover assembly (200) can include an actuator (206) attached to the inner plate (112b) of the body structure (112). The actuator (206) is configured to be connected to the cover element (202) to enable the movement of the cover element (202) from a standard position to an actuated position or vice versa. The actuator (206) is functionally connected to the cover element (202) by a connection mechanism. The actuator (206) is configured to move the cover element (202) from the standard position to the actuated position and vice versa to enable the opening and closing of the guide channel (118) during the movement of the door (116) from the closed position to an open position.The standard position of the cover element (202) can be defined as a position in which the cover element (202) covers the entire opening defined by the guide channel (118). In other words, the standard position of the cover element (202) can be defined as a position in which the cover element (202) and the outer panel (112a) of the body structure (112) are aligned along the same vertical plane. The actuated position can be defined as a position in which the cover element (202) is positioned between the outer panel (112a) and the inner panel (112b) of the body structure (112), thereby rendering the cover element (202) completely invisible to the user when the door (116) is in the open position. In one embodiment, the connection mechanism comprises a disk (208) that is fixedly attached to an output shaft (206a) of the actuator (206). The actuator (206) is a stepper motor configured to rotate the disk (208) at a predefined angle. The disk (208) may be provided with a keyway located in its center. The output shaft (206a) may have a plurality of teeth (not shown in the figures) configured to engage in the keyway, thereby forming a fixed connection between the output shaft (206a) of the actuator (206) and the disk (208). This fixed coupling simultaneously transmits the rotation of the output shaft (206a) to the rotation of the disk (208). Alternatively, other coupling methods can be used to firmly couple the output shaft (206a) of the actuator (206) to the disk (208).The disk (208) can be defined with a circular structure and can therefore alternatively be defined as a “circular element”, a “rotating element” and the like. The disk (208) can be defined by an inner surface (not shown in the figures) and an outer surface (208a) opposite the inner surface. The inner surface can be defined as a surface located next to the actuator (206). The disk (208) includes an eccentric shaft (208b) extending from the outer surface (208a) of the disk (208), as shown in Fig. 4. Alternatively, the eccentric shaft (208b) can be defined as a projection or "projecting element" extending from the outer surface (208a) of the disk (208) and offset from the center of the disk (208). The connection mechanism further includes a slide (210) defined by a longitudinal slot (210a) in an intermediate section of the slide (210). The longitudinal slot (210a) is designed to accommodate the eccentric shaft (208b), preferably it is designed to accommodate the eccentric shaft (208b) in a movable / slidable manner.The longitudinal slot (210a) allows linear and reciprocating movement of the eccentric shaft (208b) along the longitudinal slot (210a) relative to the rotational movement of the disc (208). The longitudinal slot (210a) has a length that can be varied depending on the vertical distance that the cover element (202) must travel from the home position to the actuating position or vice versa. The longitudinal slot (210a) is defined with a width that is significantly larger than the outer diameter of the eccentric shaft (208b) in order to allow the sliding movement of the eccentric shaft (208b) along the length of the longitudinal slot (210a). The connection mechanism further comprises at least two connecting rods (212) arranged at the respective ends of the slide (210) and configured to operatively connect the slide (210) to the cover element (202). The connecting rods (212) may alternatively be referred to as "connectors," "connecting links," "connecting elements," or similar terms. Each connecting rod (212) may have a first end that is pivotally or rotatably connected to the slide (210) and a second end that is rigidly connected to the cover element (202) by any conventional fastening means, for example, welding, brazing, and the like.The connection between the eccentric shaft (208b) and the slide (210) can include a Scotch-Yoke mechanism to convert the rotary motion of the disk (208) into a linear reciprocating motion of the slide (210), which in turn enables a linear vertical movement of the cover element (202), which is rigidly connected to the slide (210) via at least two connecting rods (212). The actuator (206), which is the stepper motor, is configured to rotate the disk (208) at a predefined angle, whereby the disk (208) and slide (210) assembly controls the vertical movement of the cover element (202) between the standard position and the actuated position.The cover element (202) is designed to be received in a gap defined between the inner plate (112b) and the outer plate (112a) of the body structure (112) when the cover element (202) is in the actuated position and is therefore not visible to the user. In one embodiment, the vehicle (100) includes a switch (not shown in the figures) located in the passenger compartment (110) of the vehicle (100). The switch is communicatively connected to a drive motor of the door (116) to enable automated movement of the door (116) from the closed position to the open position and simultaneously actuates the actuator (206) to move the cover element (202) from the standard position to the actuated position. The drive motor connected to the door (116) controls or initiates the opening of the door as soon as the cover element (202) has been moved to the actuated position. Alternatively, the switch can be located between the outer panel (112a) and the inner panel (112b) of the body structure (112).As soon as the drive motor controls the movement of the door (116) from the closed position to the open position, the door's connection (116a) presses the switch to enable the actuation of the actuator (206) to control the movement, preferably the vertical upward movement, of the cover element (202) from the standard position to the actuated position. This movement of the cover element (202) opens the opening defined by the guide channel (118) to allow the linear movement of the connection (116a) along the length of the guide channel (118) during the movement of the door between the open and closed positions, as shown in Figures 5(a) to 5(c). In a functional implementation, a method for opening the door (116) and thus for operating the electronic cover unit (200) is disclosed. The method for opening the door (116) comprises an initial step of pressing a switch, a touch button, or another user interface to enable the opening of the door (116), which can alternatively be defined as the sliding door, the rear door, or the electronic rear door of the vehicle (100). Once the switch is pressed, the door (116) is unlocked by a locking unit (not disclosed in the figures), and an electronic signal is transmitted to a control device that controls the actuation of the drive motor connected to the door (116).In one exemplary embodiment, the control device can first actuate the actuator (206) associated with the cover assembly (200) to enable the movement of the cover element (202) vertically upwards, i.e., from the standard position to an intermediate position, as shown in Fig. 5(b), and thereby to the actuated position, as shown in Fig. 5(c). In an alternative embodiment, after actuation of the switch, the drive motor enables the movement of the door (116) from the closed position, as shown in Fig. 5(a), to the open position, as shown in Fig. 5(c). The initial movement of the door from the closed position to the open position results in a simultaneous movement of the connection (116a) that is connected to the rear part of the door (116).The initial movement of the connection presses a switch or button connected to the electronic cover assembly (200), which controls the actuation of the actuator (206) to allow the movement of the cover element (202) in the vertically upward direction. Actuation of the actuator (206) can cause rotation of the output shaft (206a), to which the disk (208) is rigidly connected. The rotational movement of the output shaft (206a) is simultaneously transmitted to the rotational movement of the disk (208), which in turn enables rotation of the eccentric shaft (208b) extending from the outer surface (208a) of the disk (208). The rotation of the eccentric shaft (208b), which is accommodated in the longitudinal slot (210a) defined in the slide (210), enables linear vertical movement of the slide (210).The slider (210), which is rigidly connected to the cover element (202) via at least two connecting rods (212), allows simultaneous vertical movement of the cover element (202). The cover element (202) is movably connected to the inner plate (112b) of the body structure (112) via at least two guide elements (204a, 204b). Each guide element (204a, 204b) is provided with curved slots designed to receive the corresponding arm of the at least two arms (202a, 202b) of the cover element (202) in order to allow vertical angular movement of the cover element (202).The curved slots provide a curved guide path or passage that initially pulls the cover element (202) towards the inner plate (112b) and then pulls the cover element vertically upwards so that the cover element (202) is engaged between the inner plate (112b) and the outer plate (112a) when the cover element reaches the actuated position. Once the cover element is moved into the actuated position, the drive motor connected to the door (116) controls the opening of the door (116) from the closed position to the open position. In another functional embodiment, the method for closing the door (116) is disclosed. The method comprises the first step of pressing the switch to initiate the closing of the door. Pressing the switch can enable the actuation of the drive motor to control the movement of the door from the open position to the closed position. Once the door (116) has reached its closed position, the actuator (206), which is connected to the electronic cover assembly (200), is actuated, enabling the movement of the cover element (202) in the vertical downward direction. In an alternative embodiment, the connection (116a) of the door (116) can be configured to press the switch connected to the actuator (206) to enable the actuation or activation of the actuator (206).The movement of the cover element (202) in the vertical downward direction completely covers the opening defined by the guide channel (118), thereby improving the aesthetics of the vehicle (100) and simultaneously preventing the ingress of dust particles, moisture and other foreign particles into the guide channel (118). In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic cover arrangement offers the occupant or user both convenience and comfort when opening and closing the door. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the cover element prevents the ingress or accumulation of dust particles, moisture or other foreign particles in the opening or gap defined by the guide channel, which in turn increases the service life of the door or the connection associated with the door. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the cover element is fitted flush into the guide channel, so that the cover element and the part of the body structure defined between the C- and D-pillars are aligned on the same plane, making the body structure look aesthetically pleasing since the cutout / guide channel is not visible to any user when the door is in a closed position. It is understood that skilled persons may develop a vehicle or a covering arrangement for a vehicle with a similar configuration without deviating from the scope of this disclosure. Such modifications and variations may be made without deviating from the scope of this disclosure. List of reference numbers: 100 Vehicle 100a Front part of vehicle 100b Middle part of vehicle 100c Rear part of vehicle 102a, 102b Front ground engagement elements 104a, 104b Rear ground engagement elements 106 Hood 108 Headlight units 110 Passenger compartment 112 Body structure 112a Outer panel 112b Inner panel 114 Front doors 116 Rear doors 116a Connection 118 Guide channel 200 Electronic cover assembly 202 Cover element 202a, 202b Cover element arms 204a, 204b Guide elements 206 Actuator 206a Output shaft 208 Disc 208a Outer surface of disc 208b Eccentric shaft 210 Slider 210a Longitudinal slot 212 Connecting rods 214 fasteners QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature DE 102006043818A1

[0005]

Claims

A vehicle (100) comprising: a body structure (112) mounted on a chassis; at least two doors (116) functionally attached to the body structure (112); characterized in that each door (116) comprises a connection (116a) designed to slide in a corresponding guide channel (118) defined on an outer plate (112a) of the body structure (112) during the opening and closing of the door (116); and an electronic cover arrangement (200) configured to cover the guide channel (118) when the door (116) is in a closed position, the electronic cover arrangement (200) comprising: a cover element (202) designed to cover an opening defined by the guide channel (118) when the door (116) is in the closed position;at least two guide elements (204a, 204b) attached to an inner plate (112b) of the body structure (112), each guide element configured to movably connect the cover element (202) to the inner plate (112b); an actuator (206) attached to the inner plate (112b) of the body structure (112), the actuator (206) being functionally connected to the cover element (202) via a connection mechanism, the actuator (206) being configured to move the cover element (202) from an actuated position to a standard position to enable the guide channel (118) to close during the movement of the door (116) from an open position to the closed position. Vehicle (100) according to claim 1, wherein the connection mechanism comprises: a disk (208) fixedly attached to an output shaft (206a) of the actuator (206), the disk (208) having an eccentric shaft (208b) extending from an outer surface (208a) of the disk (208); a slide (210) with a longitudinal slot (210a) at an intermediate section of the slide (210), the longitudinal slot (210a) being designed to accommodate the eccentric shaft (208b); and at least two connecting rods (212) arranged at the respective ends of the slide (210) and configured to operatively connect the slide (210) to the cover element (202). The vehicle (100) according to claim 2, wherein the actuator (206) is the stepper motor, is configured to rotate the disk (208) at a predefined angle, whereby the arrangement of disk (208) and slider (210) controls the vertical movement of the cover element (202) between the standard position and the actuated position. Vehicle (100) according to claim 1, wherein the cover element (202) is designed to be received in a gap defined between the inner plate (112b) and the outer plate (112a) of the body structure (112) when the cover element (202) is in the actuated position. Vehicle (100) according to claim 1, wherein the cover element (202) comprises at least two arms (202a, 202b) extending from two ends of the cover element (202), such that each arm is movably connected to the respective guide element of the at least two guide elements (204a, 204b). Vehicle (100) according to claim 5, wherein the at least two guide elements (204a, 204b) are a first guide element (204a) and a second guide element (204b), such that each guide element is defined with a curved guide slot. Vehicle (100) according to claim 6, wherein the respective arm of the at least two arms (202a, 202b) is designed to be movably received in the curved guide slot of the corresponding guide element in order to enable a vertical angular movement of the cover element (202). Vehicle (100) according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle (100) comprises a switch arranged in a passenger compartment (110) of the vehicle (100), such that actuation of the switch actuates the actuator (206) to move the cover element (202) from the standard position to the actuated position. Vehicle (100) according to claim 8, wherein the switch is communicatively connected to a drive motor of the door (116) to enable the automatic movement of the door (116) from the closed position to the open position as soon as the cover element (202) has been moved into the actuated position. Vehicle (100) according to claim 1, wherein each door (116) of the at least two doors (116) are electronic sliding doors (116) of the vehicle (100) and wherein the cover element (202) is defined with a length corresponding to a length of the guide channel (118) and is fitted flush into the guide channel (118).

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