Upper roller assembly for a sliding vehicle closure

An upper sliding assembly for a sliding vehicle closure system, the sliding vehicle closure system being arranged to move a sliding vehicle closure along a vehicle body structure between a closed position and an open position, the upper sliding assembly comprising:

• an upper rail extending along the vehicle body structure;
• and
• an upper roller assembly including:
• a first bracket secured to the sliding vehicle closure;
• a ball bearing unit secured to the first bracket at a location spaced apart from the sliding vehicle closure, the ball bearing unit including a ball-type roller for engaging and moving along the upper guide rail during opening and closing of the sliding vehicle closure, the ball-type roller fixed in position relative to the sliding vehicle closure during opening and closing thereof, the ball-type roller supporting the sliding vehicle closure relative to the vehicle body structure;
• a second bracket connected to the ball bearing unit allowing the second bracket to rotate relative to the sliding vehicle closure during opening and closing thereof;
• and
• a plurality of guide rollers for guiding movement of the sliding vehicle closure during opening and closing thereof, the plurality of guide rollers being rotatably connected to the second bracket for engaging and moving along the upper guide rail during opening and closing of the sliding vehicle closure, the plurality of guide rollers including at least one guide roller rotatable about a generally horizontally oriented axis and at least one guide roller rotatable about a generally vertically oriented axis.

A sliding vehicle closure assembly for a vehicle comprising:

• a sliding vehicle closure including a closure body;
• an upper guide rail secured to a vehicle body structure for guiding the sliding vehicle closure during opening an closing thereof, the upper guide rail having an I-shaped cross-section including an upper flange, a lower flange and a web separating the upper and lower flanges;
• a first bracket extending from an upper portion of the closure body;
• a ball-type roller is secured to the first bracket for engaging and moving along the upper guide rail during opening and closing of the sliding vehicle closure, the ball-type roller being rotatable about a generally vertically oriented axis and fixed in position relative to the sliding vehicle closure during opening and closing thereof, the ball-type roller supporting the sliding vehicle closure on the upper guide rail relative to the vehicle body structure;
• a second bracket positioned beneath the first bracket and rotatable relative to the first bracket via a ball-bearing unit connected to the first bracket;
• and
• a plurality of guide rollers for guiding movement of the sliding vehicle closure during opening an closing thereof, the plurality of guide rollers being rotatably connected to the second bracket for engaging and moving along the upper guide rail during opening and closing of the sliding vehicle closure,
• wherein the ball-type roller engages and moves along the upper flange during opening and closing of the sliding vehicle closure, at least one guide roller engages and moves along the lower flange during opening and closing of the sliding vehicle closure, and at least one guide roller engages and moves along the web during opening and closing of the sliding vehicle closure,
• wherein the upper guide rail includes an S-shaped offset section adapted to lift the sliding vehicle closure and move the sliding vehicle closure laterally from the vehicle body structure as the sliding vehicle closure is moved toward the open position.