Patent ID: 7914072

Claim:
In an automotive vehicle having a roof frame structure including a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending roof side rail members and a transversely extending header interconnecting the roof side rail members, the improvement comprising: a moon roof frame module having a pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending moon roof side panels and a forward transverse cross member extending between the moon roof side panels, each of the moon roof side panels being secured to a corresponding roof side rail member to be integrated into the roof frame structure, the moon roof frame module defining a moon roof opening, the moon roof side panels extending rearwardly from the forward cross member to project generally linearly rearwardly of the moon roof opening to reinforce the roof frame structure rearwardly of the moon roof opening; and said moon roof frame module being connected to said roof side rail members to create along each opposing longitudinal side of said roof frame structure a three closed beam section configuration, including a first closed beam section formed by said moon roof frame module, a second closed beam section formed by said roof side rail member, and a third closed beam section formed by a trim member spaced from said moon roof side panel and the roof side rail member said first closed beam section closed by an upper surface of said second closed beam section.