DE102023002043A1 - A body structure of a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure discloses a body structure of a vehicle. The body structure includes a door sill that extends in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is defined with a cutout. A block is movably disposed in the door sill, the block being configured to move between a first position and a second position in the door sill, such that in the first position a first portion of the block is configured to obscure the cutout, and in the second position, a second portion of the block aligns with the cutout. Further, an actuation unit is configured to actuate the block between the first and second positions. Actuation of the door to an open position triggers the actuation unit to actuate the block to the second position, thereby facilitating a vehicle occupant to position a leg in a slot defined in the second portion during entry or exit.

Description

In the following description, particular emphasis is placed on the invention and the manner in which it is intended to be carried out.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of automobiles. In particular, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a body structure of a vehicle. Further, embodiments of the disclosure disclose the body structure of the vehicle that allows an occupant to easily enter and exit the vehicle.

Vehicles such as passenger cars have been meeting people's transportation needs for several decades. Likewise, with the advancement of technology, the components and elements associated with vehicles have changed greatly in terms of various features such as miniaturization, improved efficiency, improvement in vehicle occupant comfort levels, increased safety and so on. The continuous research and development of new vehicle segments, such as commercial vehicles, have paved the way for the integration of sophisticated electronic/electrical and mechanical elements. These sophisticated elements are often designed with the aim of improving the overall driving and travel experience of the occupants and minimizing discomfort caused by various factors. The factors may include undulations/unevenness of the terrain on which the vehicle is to be driven, traffic conditions and so on. These elements aim not only to improve the overall driving/travel experience, but also to optimize the ergonomics of the passenger compartment and associated substructures. This is important in order to allow the occupants easy access to the vehicle interior as well as to optimize the posture of the occupants at the time of entering the vehicle, while sitting and when exiting the vehicle.

Despite these advances in vehicle ergonomics, occupants may still experience physiological discomfort when entering and exiting the vehicle. For example, when entering or exiting the vehicle, occupants may be required to stretch or bend body parts such as legs, thighs, or hips, which may result in cramps, twists, or strains. Shorter people in particular are prone to cramps or strains in their legs because they tend to stretch or bend more compared to a person of average height. On the other hand, people who are taller than average tend to cramp the legs or muscles in the middle of the body, which also leads to problems related to strains and cramps. Apart from this defect, there are also problems such as the possibility of dirt such as mud or silt accumulating on the door sills. When an occupant attempts to enter the vehicle in such conditions, the mud or silt accumulated over the door sills tends to stain clothing, such as the passenger's pants, which cover the occupant's calves. This is undesirable.

In the past, several solutions have been proposed to address the disadvantages associated with passenger boarding and alighting. Such a solution is disclosed in the US patent application with publication number US20120169024 A1 [hereinafter referred to as the '024 release] proposed, in which the vehicle is equipped with a fold-out sill that an occupant can step on and get into the room. The sill is provided on the underside of the vehicle below the door frame, which is operated between a folded and unfolded position so that the sill exposes a step for passenger entry and exit. However, the fold-out rocker panels mentioned in the '024 release, when folded, can impact the aerodynamics of the vehicle's underside and are susceptible to the accumulation of dirt, mud, silt or debris. Another US patent with the patent number US5474353 [hereinafter referred to as the '353 patent] discloses a vehicle seat assembly in which the seat consists of divided parts, that is, a first seat part that is fixed in its neutral or middle position and a second seat part that can be pivoted or rotated, to make it easier for an occupant to get in or out. By pivoting the second seat part, the proximity of the second seat part to the door is increased, thereby making it easier for the occupant to get into or out of the vehicle compartment. This arrangement requires a complex assembly and pivoting mechanism to ensure that the second seat portion is pivoted only when necessary while the first seat portion remains fixed.

The present disclosure is intended to overcome one or more of the aforementioned limitations or other limitations associated with the prior art.

One or more deficiencies of a conventional vehicle body structure are overcome and additional advantages are provided by the vehicle body structure as claimed by the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered part of the claimed disclosure.

In a non-limiting embodiment of the disclosure, a body structure of a vehicle is disclosed. The body structure includes a door sill that extends in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the door sill being defined with a cutout. A block is movably disposed in the door sill, the block being configured to move between a first position and a second position in the door sill, such that in the first position a first portion of the block is configured to obscure the cutout, and in the second position, a second portion of the block aligns with the cutout. Further, an actuation unit is operably coupled to the block, the actuation unit being configured to actuate the block in response to actuation of a door of the vehicle between the first position and the second position. Actuation of the door to an open position triggers the actuation unit to actuate the block to the second position, thereby facilitating a vehicle occupant to position a leg in a slot defined in the second portion during entry or exit.

In one embodiment, the cutout defined in the door sill extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

In one embodiment, the second portion of the block is adjacent to the first portion of the block along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and wherein the first portion of the block is structured to have a raised portion.

In one embodiment, the actuation unit includes an actuator coupled to the block and at least one sensor configured to detect the position of the door relative to the door sill. Further, the actuation unit includes a control unit communicatively coupled to the actuator and the at least one sensor, the control unit being configured to regulate the actuation of the actuator based on the signals received from the at least one sensor.

In one embodiment, the block is at least one of a channel and a bracket, and each of the first and second portions of the block has at least one of a trapezoidal, C-shaped, U-shaped or L-shaped profile. Furthermore, the second section of the block is lined with at least one layer of padding.

In one embodiment, the second portion of the block is adapted to conceal within the door sill when the block is actuated to the first position, and the first portion of the block is adapted to conceal within the door sill when the block is in the second position is pressed.

In one embodiment, the actuator is at least one of an electrical actuation unit, a hydraulic actuation unit and a pneumatic actuation unit.

In one embodiment, the actuator includes a rotary actuator and a pinion rotatably coupled to the rotary actuator and configured to be actuated by the rotary actuator in response to operation of the door. Further, a frame is movably coupled to the pinion, the frame being configured to linearly actuate the block between the first position and the second position.

In one embodiment, the block is coupled to the door through one or more mechanical connections, and wherein the actuation of the door is configured to actuate the block between the first position and the second position through the one or more mechanical connections.

The foregoing summary is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting in any way. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments and features described above, other aspects, embodiments and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

• 1A und 1B schematische perspektivische Ansichten einer Fahrzeugkarosseriestruktur veranschaulichen, die den Türschweller und den zwischen einer ersten beziehungsweise einer zweiten Position betätigten Block gemäß einigen Ausführungsformen der vorliegenden Offenbarung darstellen;
• 1C eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht des Türschwellers von oben veranschaulicht, der die Konfiguration des in 1A und 1B veranschaulichten Blocks darstellt;
• 2 eine schematische Seitenansicht eines Abschnitts des Türschwellers veranschaulicht, der die anfängliche Positionierung und die verbesserte Positionierung eines Beins des Fahrgastes während des Ein- und Aussteigens relativ zu dem Fahrzeug zeigt;
• 3A und 3B perspektivische Schnittansichten des Inneren eines Türschwellers veranschaulichen, der mit einem Block einer Ein-Elementkonfiguration versehen ist, gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Offenbarung;
• 4A und 4B eine Vorderansicht beziehungsweise eine Seitenansicht des in dem Türschweller gestützten und mit einem Aktuator gekoppelten Blocks gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Offenbarung;
• 5 eine perspektivische Schnittansicht des Türschweller veranschaulicht, der mit einer Schiebetür zusammengebaut ist, an der der Block befestigt ist, gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Offenbarung; und
• 6 ein Blockdiagramm der Elemente veranschaulicht, die der Betätigung des Blocks in dem Türschweller zugeordnet sind, gemäß einigen Ausführungsformen der vorliegenden Offenbarung.

The novel features and characteristics of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. However, the disclosure itself, as well as a mode of use, further objects and advantages thereof, are best understood by reference to the following detailed description of an embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like elements and wherein:

• 1A and 1B 12 are schematic perspective views of a vehicle body structure illustrating the door sill and the block actuated between first and second positions, respectively illustrate some embodiments of the present disclosure;
• 1C a schematic perspective view of the door sill from above illustrates the configuration of the in 1A and 1B illustrated blocks;
• 2 illustrates a schematic side view of a portion of the door sill showing the initial positioning and improved positioning of a passenger's leg during entry and exit relative to the vehicle;
• 3A and 3B illustrate perspective sectional views of the interior of a door sill provided with a block of a single-member configuration, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
• 4A and 4B a front view and a side view, respectively, of the block supported in the door sill and coupled to an actuator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
• 5 illustrates a perspective sectional view of the door sill assembled with a sliding door to which the block is attached, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
• 6 illustrates a block diagram of the elements associated with actuation of the block in the door sill, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

The figures represent embodiments of the disclosure for illustrative purposes only. One skilled in the art will readily appreciate from the following description that alternative embodiments of the system illustrated herein may be used without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

While the embodiments described in the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the figures and are described below. However, it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives that fall within the scope of the disclosure.

It should be noted that one skilled in the art could be motivated by the present disclosure and modify various features of a vehicle body structure without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Therefore, such modifications are considered part of the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings show only the specific details relevant to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art who will benefit from the present description. Additionally, the body structure of the present disclosure can be used in any type/segment of vehicles, including commercial vehicles, passenger cars, cargo vehicles, and the like. However, for simplicity, the vehicle is not illustrated as a whole in the drawings of the disclosure.

As used in the disclosure, the terms "comprises...a," "comprising," or other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions, such that a structure or system or method that includes a list of components, not just those components but may also include other components not expressly listed or included in such system, structure or process. In other words, one or more elements in the structure or system or method continued with "comprises...a" does not exclude, without further qualification, the presence of other or additional elements in the structure or system or the procedure.

Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a vehicle body structure. The body structure includes a door sill that extends in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the door sill being defined with a cutout. The door sill may define the lowest boundary of the vehicle door, and a vehicle occupant generally places his leg, ie, his calf area, next to the door sill when entering or exiting the vehicle. A block is movably disposed within the door sill, the block being configured to move between a first position and a second position within the door sill. This allows the first section of the block to cover the cutout when the block is moved to the first position. Conversely, when the block is moved to the second position, a second portion of the block aligns with the cutout. In one embodiment, the cutout defined in the door sill extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Furthermore, the second section of the block adjoins the first section of the block along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and the first section of the block is structured to have a raised section compared to the second section.

Further, the body structure includes an actuator operably coupled to the block, the actuator configured to actuate the block in response to actuation of a door of the vehicle between the first position and the second position. In one embodiment, the actuation unit includes an actuator coupled to the block and at least one sensor configured to detect the position of the door relative to the door sill. Further, a control unit is communicatively coupled to the actuator and the at least one sensor, the control unit being configured to regulate the actuation of the actuator based on the signals received from the at least one sensor. Actuation of the door to an open position triggers the actuation unit to actuate the block to the second position, thereby facilitating a vehicle occupant to position a leg in a slot defined in the second portion during entry or exit.

In the following sections, the present disclosure is discussed with reference to 1 until 6 described. In the figures, the same element or elements having similar functions are indicated by the same reference numerals. With general reference to the drawings, the passenger compartment of the vehicle [some features shown] is illustrated and generally identified by reference numeral. It is to be understood that the teachings of the present disclosure are not limited to any vehicle, nor are all features of the vehicle shown in the figures for convenience.

The manner in which an occupant enters/exits a vehicle is briefly described. When getting in, the occupant can place one of the legs, for example the left leg, on the floor next to a door sill (3) [as in 1A and 1B shown], which corresponds to the position of the vehicle door. The occupant positions the other leg, ie the right leg, in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The passenger sits on the seat using the leg placed on the platform in the passenger compartment and takes the other leg, ie the left leg, with him when it is correctly positioned on the seat (5). The occupant also supports himself by holding on to any of the elements associated with the body structure, for example the door frame. The process described above is reversed when the occupant attempts to exit the vehicle. The occupant opens the door [not shown], which allows access between the passenger compartment and the outside of the vehicle, both before entering and exiting. With such an arrangement of the door sill (3), there is a risk that the occupant will suffer cramps or strains due to excessive stretching of their legs. This is particularly true for occupants who are relatively smaller than an average height person. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to address this difficulty in getting in and out.

1A and 1B are exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure illustrating a schematic perspective view of a portion (20) of the passenger compartment. It will be the same 1C Reference is made which illustrates the top view of an exemplary block (24) disposed in the door sill (3). The section (20) represents the seat (5) on which the occupant sits and an adjacent door sill (3) which may form part of the outside of the vehicle body. The doors [not shown] of the vehicle are bounded by the body structure, with the door sill (3) forming the lowest boundary of each door, thereby supporting each door above. In an embodiment in which the vehicle is a four-wheeled vehicle, such as a passenger car, two door sills (3) may be provided on the side sides of the vehicle. The door sills (3) can extend longitudinally so that the doors corresponding to the front and rear seats can be assembled above them in an articulated or sliding manner. The door sills (3) also form the side ends of the platform on which the occupant tends to rest his legs while sitting on the seat (5). The closed doors, the door sills (3) and the external body structure of the vehicle, which are present on the side sides, can isolate the passenger compartment from the external environment. As in 1A and 1B As shown, the door sill (3) may be in the form of an elongated hollow rod or tube, which may be made from materials including, but not limited to, metals, alloys, metal-based composites, and so on. The hollow section is designated by reference numeral (22). In order to take into account the restrictions associated with the entry and exit of the occupants, the door sill (3) can be defined with a cutout (23), for example an opening in the shape of a rectangle, a trapezoid or another geometric shape, as in 1 B shown. In one embodiment, the cutout (23) defined in the door sill (3) can extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The cutout (23) in the door sill (3) can make it easier for the occupant to position his leg closer to the passenger compartment than with the door sill (3), which does not have a cutout (23). To facilitate the selective exposure or uncovering of the cutout (23) depending on the door position, the door sill (3) can be provided with a block (24) which can move between a first position (FP) and a second position (SP). can.

The block (24), as shown in 1C shown may have two different sections, ie a first section (24A) and a second section (24B), although with design changes a single section block (24) configuration may also be employed. In one embodiment, the first section (24A) of the block (24), which is in 1C shown have a raised area. In other words, the first portion (24A) may have a profile that projects outward in the vehicle width (WD) direction [as in 1B shown], so that an outer profile of the first section (24A) can correspond to the profile of the door sill (3). This goes out 1A with the first section (24A) shown matching or aligned with the profile of the door sill (3). The first section (24A) is in 1B shown by dashed lines, while the second section (24B) is shown in dashed lines, as in 1A shown. In one embodiment, the second section (24B), as in 1C shown have an opposite profile or geometry compared to the first section (24A). In other words, the second section (24B) may be designed to align with the cutout (23) when actuated to the second position (SP). The first and second sections (24A, 24B) may have an intersection (N). In one embodiment, the block (24) can be arranged within the hollow portion (22) of the door sill (3) such that the block (24) slides within the door sill (3) between the first and second positions (FP, SP). can. In one embodiment, the second portion (24B) of the block (24) abuts the first portion (24A) of the block (24) along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In another embodiment, the block (24) may be at least one of a channel and a bracket, and each of the first portion (24A) and the second portion (24B) of the block (24) may be at least one of trapezoidal, C-shaped, Have U-shaped and L-shaped profiles or any other geometric profile that can correspond to the profile of the door sill (3). In another embodiment, the block (24) may be manufactured using metals, alloys, metal matrix composites, and so on. In one embodiment, the overall dimensions of the block (24) may be slightly smaller than the dimensions of the inner contour of the door sill (3), so that the block (24) can easily slide in the inner contour of the door sill (3), the first section (24A) touches the inner contour. The second section (24B) can define a slot (S) [ 1C ], which can align with the cutout (23) when the block (24) is in the second position (SP).

During operation, the block (24) can remain in the first position (FP) when the vehicle door is in the closed state. This allows the first section (24A) of the block (24) to obscure or cover the cutout, as shown in 1A shown, so that the first section (24A) forms a continuous closed structure together with the door sill (3). In the first position (FP), the second portion (24B) of the block (24) remains hidden or covered within the interior of the hollow portion (22) of the door sill (3) as viewed from the outside of the vehicle. In one embodiment, the first section (24A) can be aesthetically identical to the outside of the door sill (3), so that in the first position (FP) the aesthetics and visual appeal of the door sill (3) remain unaffected. The hidden second section (24B) is in 1A shown by dashed lines. When the vehicle has come to a stop and the occupant either wants to get into the vehicle or get out of the vehicle, he opens the vehicle door. In response to the opening of the door, the block (24) can be operated from the first position (FP) to the second position (SP) in the operating direction (AD). When the second position (SP) is reached, the second section (24B) can align with the cutout (23), so that a slot (S) in the second section (24B) can align with the cutout (23). In one embodiment, the slot (S) in the second section (24B) may be lined with at least one layer of a cushioning material (25), such as foam, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, and so on. In one embodiment, the enclosed space of the first section (24A) may also be provided with a cushioning/impact-resistant material that may help improve the impact resistance and toughness of the block (24) and the door sill (3) in the event of a side impact, for example, an impact from the side.

Exposing the slot (S) together with the cutout (23) allows the occupant to position a portion of the leg, for example the calf area, partially or completely into the slot (S), thereby allowing the occupant to move in - or get out a lot comes closer to the passenger compartment. For example, at the time of exit, the occupant may open the door and position his calf portion of the leg directly into the hole/cavity defined by the second section (24B) so that he does not lift the leg beyond the depth of the door sill (3 ) has to stretch out. This configuration of the second portion (24B) of the block (24) allows the occupant to enter or exit with minimal extension of the leg, thereby minimizing the possibility of strain or cramping of the muscles. In an exemplary embodiment, the slot (S) aligned with the cutout (23) can have a depth of 50 mm - 80 mm in the direction of the vehicle width (WD), so that the occupant can use his leg compared to a door sill without a cutout (23 ) can be positioned 50 mm - 80 mm closer or more proximal to the passenger compartment. This is in 2 shown, the position of the leg without a cutout (23) in the door sill (3) being represented by a black ball labeled (INP). The presence of the cutout (23) in the door sill (3) and the slot (S) in the second section (24B) improves the closeness with which the leg can be positioned with respect to the passenger compartment. The improved [proximal] positioning of the leg is represented by the gray sphere labeled (IMP). The distance (X) can be between 50 mm and 80 mm, indicating the degree of closeness with which the positioning of the legs can be improved. In one embodiment, the distance (X) can be greater than 80 mm depending on the dimensions of the door sill (3). In one embodiment, the layer of cushioning material (25) can provide cushioning to the leg if the leg comes into contact with the contour of the second section (24B) at all when getting in or out. Since the second section (24B) remains hidden or covered in the interior of the door sill (3), as in 1A shown, the possibility of dirt, debris, mud, silt, etc. accumulating on the padding layer (25) is low or non-existent. When the occupant attempts to get in or out, there is little or no risk of their clothing becoming dirty, unlike the existing door sills (3) where dirt, debris, mud, silt, etc. can accumulate , which can stain the occupant's clothing when getting in/out.

3A and 3B are exemplary embodiments illustrating perspective views of an interior of the door sill (3) provided with a block (27) of a particular configuration. The block (27) is a unitary element that can be moved between the first position (FP) and the second position (SP) to cover or reveal the cutout (33). In this case, the cutout (33) may be pre-assembled or lined with a padding layer [not shown] so that the cutout (33) with the padding layer can define the hole/cavity in which the occupant will position his leg when entering or exiting can. 3A represents the first position (FP) of the block (27) in which the block (27) has completely covered the cutout (33) in response to the fully closed state of the door. Once the door is placed in an open position, the block (27) can be operated to the second position (SP) so that the block (27) can be hidden or concealed behind the door sill (3) when viewed from the outside of the vehicle.

4A and 4B illustrate front and side views of an exemplary configuration of the block (24 or 27) and its operation within the door sill (3). The block (24 or 27) can be attached or coupled to sliders (28) at the top and bottom, for example. The sliders (28) can in turn be slidably arranged in grooves or rails or channels (29), so that the sliding or back and forth movement of the sliders (28) within the grooves or rails or channels (29) is possible. In one embodiment, the grooves or the rails or the channels (29) can form part of the door sill (3). In another embodiment, the sliders (28) may maintain rolling contact with the grooves or rails or channels (29) to facilitate sliding movement of the sliders (28) and hence the block (24 or 27). In one embodiment, the slider (28) or the block (24 or 27) may be coupled to an actuation unit (30), which is described with reference to 6 is described below.

6 is an exemplary embodiment showing a block diagram of the elements associated with the operation of the block (24 or 27) provided in the door sill (3). The elements include an actuation unit (30) operably coupled to the block (24 or 27) to actuate the block (24 or 27) between the first position (24) and the second position (27). Actuation of the block (24 or 27) between the first position (FP) and the second position (SP) may occur in response to the operation of the vehicle door. In one embodiment, the actuation unit (30) may include an actuator coupled to the block (24 or 27). In one embodiment, the actuator may be at least one of an electric actuator, a hydraulic actuator, or a pneumatic actuator. The actuator can, for example, be a linear actuator such as a piston or a plunger enclosed in a cylinder be that is operated with electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic energy. In another embodiment, as in 4A shown, the actuator may be a rotary linear actuator, in which the rotary motion of a rotary actuator can be converted into a linear motion using intermediate mechanical elements. In one embodiment, the linear rotary actuator includes a motor [not shown] that may be driven electrically, hydraulically, or pneumatically. The motor can in turn drive a pinion (31) with which the frame (32) is coupled or meshes. The rotary motion of the motor can be converted into linear motion of the frame (32) to move the block (24 or 27) between the first and second positions (FP and SP).

Furthermore, the actuation unit (30) can contain at least one sensor (40) which is configured to detect the position of the door relative to the door sill (3). The at least one sensor (40) may be a proximity sensor or a distance sensor may include light, laser, radiation or acoustic based sensors or any other form of sensor that detects the closed and open positions of the door in relation to the door sill (3). The at least one sensor (40) can detect the open/closed state of the door and generate signals that can be recorded by a control unit (50). The control unit (50) may be communicatively coupled to the actuator (35) and the at least one sensor (40), wherein the control unit (50) is configured to regulate the actuation of the actuator (35) based on signals received from the at least one sensor (40) are received. For example, the control unit (50) may trigger/activate the actuator (35) to move the block (24 or 27) to the first position (FP) when the sensor (40) generates signals corresponding to a closed state of the door . On the other hand, the control unit (50) can trigger/activate the actuator (35) to move the block (24 or 27) to the second position (SP) when the sensor (40) generates signals corresponding to an open state of the door . The relationship between the operation of the block (24 or 27) and the operation of the door in relation to the door sill (3) is in 6 shown by dotted arrows.

In one embodiment, the block (24 or 27) may be coupled to the door of the vehicle via one or more mechanical connections such that operation of the door is configured to move the block (24 or 27) between the first position (FP) and the second position (SP) via the one or more mechanical connections. The mechanical linkages may consist of various mechanical elements/pairs connected together to convert either the linear or articulated movement of the door into a linear/reciprocating movement of the block (24 or 27).

5 illustrates another exemplary configuration of the block (64) that may be used with a sliding-type door configuration (60) present in the vehicle. The block (64), which has a closed contour towards the door sill (3), can be coupled to the sliding door so that the block (64) does not require a separate actuator to move between the first position (FP) and the second position ( SP) to be operated. The direction of actuation (AD) of the block (64) is shown. The interior of the block (64) may be lined with cushioning or impact-resistant material (62), which can improve the impact resistance and toughness of the block (24) and the door sill (3) during side impacts, such as a side impact. The door sill (3) in turn has a cutout (63) which can be lined with a padding material (65). When the sliding door is operated linearly between an open and a closed position, the block (64) can move to cover and expose the cutout (63). For example, when the sliding type door is opened by operation toward the vehicle rear direction (RD), the block (64) is operated to the second position (SP) in which it releases the cutout (63). As explained in the previous sections, the occupant can place their leg fully or substantially into the cutout to enter or exit. When the sliding type door is to be closed, it can be operated toward the vehicle front direction (FD) so that the block (64) moves linearly toward the first position (FP). The block (64) can then move closer in the direction indicated by (CD) to cover or obscure the cutout (63).

In one embodiment of the disclosure, the control unit (50) (such as an electronic control unit) may be a centralized control unit or a special control unit associated with the actuation unit (30) of the vehicle. The controller may be implemented by any computing system used to implement the features of the present disclosure. The control unit can consist of a processing unit. The processing unit may include at least one data processor for executing program components for executing user-generated or system-generated queries. The processing unit may be a specialized processing unit, such as integrated system (bus) controllers, memory devices management control units, floating point units, graphics processing units, digital signal processing units, etc. The processing unit can be a microprocessor such as AMD Athlon, Duron or Opteron, ARMs application, embedded or secure processors, IBM PowerPC, Intels Core, Itanium, Xeon, Celeron or another series of processors etc. include. The processing unit may be implemented using a mainframe, a distributed processor, a multi-core processor, a parallel computer, a grid, or other architectures. In some embodiments, embedded technologies such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), etc. may be utilized.

In some embodiments, the CU may be arranged in communication with one or more memory devices (e.g., RAM, ROM, etc.) via a memory interface. The storage interface can be connected to storage devices including, without limitation, storage drives, removable disk drives, etc., using connection protocols such as Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA), Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE), IEEE-1394, Universal Serial Bus (USB), Fiber Channel , Small Computing System Interface (SCSI), etc. can be used. The storage drives may further include a drum, a magnetic disk drive, a magneto-optical drive, an optical drive, a redundant array of independent disks (RAID), solid-state storage devices, solid-state storage devices, etc.

The system (200) of the present disclosure has a number of inherent advantages. One advantage is that the block mounted in the door sill allows the occupant to enter and exit more effortlessly with reduced amounts of stretch. This is beneficial to avoid possible strains, cramps or other discomfort experienced by the occupant due to excessive/abrupt extension of the legs. In other words: the ergonomics of the vehicle is improved. Another advantage is that the block allows the attachment of cushioning elements/impact attenuation elements, which improves the overall safety of the vehicle, particularly with regard to accidents/collisions from the sides. Yet another advantage is that the selective opening and closing of the cutout eliminates the possibility of accumulation of dirt/silt/mud/debris on the block and subsequent contamination of the occupant's clothing by the accumulated dirt/silt/mud/debris can be. Another advantage is the integration of existing modules such as sensors, control unit, etc. into the actuator that operates the block, thus avoiding additional costs and the need for additional components.

It should be understood that one skilled in the art can develop a vehicle body structure with a similar configuration without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Such modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. It is therefore intended that the present disclosure cover such modifications and variations as they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, one skilled in the art may translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as appropriate to the context and/or application . The various singular/plural permutations may be specifically mentioned herein for clarity.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the terms used herein and particularly in the appended claims (e.g. in the bodies of the appended claims) are generally to be understood as "open" terms (e.g. the term "including" should be understood as "including but not limited to", the term "comprising" should be interpreted as "at least comprising", the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to", etc.) . Those skilled in the art will further understand that if a specific number of an initiated claim recitation is intended, that intention is expressly recited in the claim, and that if such recitation is absent, there is no such intention. For example, and as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may include the use of introductory phrases "at least one, one" and "a, one or more" to initiate claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed as meaning that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a, an" limits a particular claim containing such an introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only such recitation, even if the same Claim that includes introductory phrases “a, one or more” or “at least one, one” and indefinite articles such as “an, one” (e.g. “an, one” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one, one” or “one, one or more”); the same applies to the ver use of specific articles used to initiate claim recitations. Furthermore, even if a specific number of claim recitations initiated is explicitly stated, one skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the number recited (e.g., merely reciting “two recitations” means without other modifiers typically at least two recitations or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in cases where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B and C, etc." is used, such a construction is generally meant in the sense in which a person skilled in the art would understand the convention (e.g . would include "a system with at least one of A, B and C" systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together and/or A, B and C together, etc., but are not limited to). In those cases where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B or C, etc." is used, such a construction is generally meant in the sense in which a person skilled in the art would understand the convention (e.g. would “a system with at least one of A, B or C” includes systems containing A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together and/or A, B and C together, etc . have, but are not limited to). Those skilled in the art will further understand that virtually any disjoint word and/or phrase representing two or more alternative terms, whether in the specification, claims or drawings, should be understood to mean that the possibilities exist , one of the terms, one of the terms or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” is understood to include the options “A” or “B” or “A and B.” While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art . The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not to be construed as limiting, the true scope being indicated by the following claims.

List of reference symbols:

3

Door sill

5

Seat

20

Section of the passenger compartment

22

Hollow section

23, 33, 63

Detail

24, 27, 64

block

24A, 24B

First and second sections of the block

25, 65

Padding layer/material

28

Slider

29

Grooves or rails or channels

30

Actuation unit

31

pinion

32

frame

35

actuator

40

sensor

50

Control unit

60

Sliding door configuration

62

Shock absorption material

AD

Direction of operation

FP and SP

First and second positions

WD

Vehicle width direction

N

Cutting points of the first and second sections

S

slot

INP

Initial position

IMP

Improved position

X

Distance

FD, RD

Vehicle front and rear direction

CD

Cover/occlusion direction

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 20120169024 A1 [0005]
• US 5474353 [0005]

Claims (10)

Body structure of a vehicle, the body structure comprising: a door sill (3) extending along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the door sill (3) being defined with a cutout (23); a block (24) movably disposed in the door sill (3), the block (24) being configured to move between a first position (FP) and a second position (SP) in the door sill (3). , wherein in the first position (FP) a first section (24A) of the block (24) is configured to cover the cutout (23), and in the second position (SP) a second section (24B) of the block (24) is configured 24) aligns with the cutout (23); and an actuation unit (30) operably coupled to the block (24), the actuation unit (30) being configured to move the block (24) between the first position (FP) and the second position (SP); wherein actuation of the door to an open position triggers the actuation unit (30) to actuate the block (24) to the second position (SP), thereby facilitating a vehicle occupant to keep one leg in one during entry or exit to position the slot (S) defined in the second section (24B). Body structure according to Claim 1 , wherein the cutout (23) defined in the door sill (3) extends along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Body structure according to Claim 1 , wherein the second portion (24B) of the block (24) is adjacent to the first portion (24A) of the block (24) along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and wherein the first portion (24A) of the block (24) is structured to have a having a raised section. Body structure according to Claim 1 , wherein the actuation unit (30) comprises: an actuator (35) coupled to the block (24); at least one sensor (40) configured to detect the position of the door relative to the door sill (3); and a control unit (50) communicatively coupled to the actuator (35) and the at least one sensor (40), the control unit (50) being configured to regulate the actuation of the actuator (35) based on signals, which are received by the at least one sensor (40). Body structure according to Claim 1 , wherein the block (24) is at least one of a channel and a bracket, and wherein each of the first section (24A) and the second section (24B) of the block (24) is at least one of trapezoidal, C-shaped, U-shaped and L-shaped profiles. Body structure according to Claim 1 , wherein the second section (24B) of the block (24) is lined with at least one cushioning layer (25). Body structure according to Claim 6 , wherein: the second portion (24B) of the block (24) is adapted to conceal within the interior of the door sill (3) when the block (24) is actuated to the first position (FP); and the first portion (24A) of the block (24) is adapted to conceal within the interior of the door sill (3) when the block (24) is operated to the second position (SP). Body structure according to Claim 4 , wherein the actuator (35) is at least one of an electric actuator, a hydraulic actuator and a pneumatic actuator. Body structure according to Claim 4 , wherein the actuator (35) comprises: a rotary actuator; a pinion (31) rotatably coupled to the rotary actuator and configured to be actuated by the rotary actuator in response to operation of the door; and a frame (32) movably connected to the pinion (31), the frame (32) being configured to linearly actuate the block (24) between the first position (FP) and the second position (SP). . Vehicle body structure Claim 1 , wherein the block (24) is coupled to the door through one or more mechanical connections, and wherein actuation of the door is configured to move the block (24) between the first position (FP) and the second position (SP) through the to operate one or more mechanical connections.

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