Patent ID: 7314246

Claim:
A sunroof system comprising: a front sunroof panel having a rigid and substantially horizontally planar exterior surface, when viewed in a closed position; a central sunroof panel having a rigid and substantially horizontally planar exterior surface, when viewed in a closed position; at least a rear sunroof panel having a rigid and substantially horizontally planar exterior surface, when viewed in a closed position; a front movement mechanism coupled to the front sunroof panel, the front movement mechanism allowing the front panel to be moved from a closed position to an open position, the open position being substantially rear of the closed position; a central movement mechanism coupled to the central sunroof panel, the central movement mechanism allowing the central panel to be moved from a closed position to an open position; a rear movement mechanism coupled to the rear sunroof panel, the rear movement mechanism allowing the rear panel to be moved from a closed position to an open position, the open position being substantially forward of the closed position; and an automatically powered actuator operably driving the rear movement mechanism; the front and rear sunroof panels being movable to their open positions in a stacked relationship relative to the central sunroof panel; wherein at least one of the movement mechanisms comprises: (a) a cable-driven slide block including a diagonally upstanding camming slot; (b) a bracket affixed to and downwardly extending from the respective sunroof panel, a cam follower protecting from the bracket and riding along the camming slot; and (c) an elongated lift arm being pivotally coupled to the slide block and the respective sunroof panel.