Patent ID: 8807642

Claim:
A moveable panel system for a roof of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising: a left lateral track including a left outer guiding channel and a left inner guiding channel, said left outer guiding channel including a left forward opening; a right lateral track including a right outer guiding channel and a right inner guiding channel, said right outer guiding channel including a right forward opening; a moveable panel having a panel perimeter including a front edge, a back edge, a left edge, and a right edge; a left forward mechanical linkage coupled to a forward portion of said left edge and moveably engaged with said left outer guiding channel; a right forward mechanical linkage coupled to a forward portion of said right edge and moveably engaged with said right outer guiding channel; a left rearward mechanical linkage coupled to a rearward portion of said left edge behind said left forward mechanical linkage and moveably engaged with said left outer guiding channel; a right rearward mechanical linkage coupled to a rearward portion of said right edge behind said right forward mechanical linkage and moveably engaged with said right outer guiding channel; and a structure disposed in the roof, said structure including: a support including: a left lateral generally vertical sidewall having a forward left portion defining an integrated left cam slot configured to accept said left forward mechanical linkage, said integrated left cam slot including a left rear opening; a right lateral generally vertical sidewall having a forward right portion defining an integrated right cam slot configured to accept said right forward mechanical linkage, said integrated right cam slot including a right rear opening; a generally horizontal base wall extending between said sidewalls and defining a passenger compartment opening having an opening perimeter smaller than said panel perimeter; a left track mounting region defined at said left sidewall mounting said left lateral track to said left sidewall while juxtaposing said left forward opening with said left rear opening; and a right track mounting region defined at said right sidewall mounting said right lateral track to said right sidewall while juxtaposing said right forward opening with said right rear opening; wherein said left outer guiding channel guides said left linkages as said moveable panel moves forward and aft over said base wall; wherein said right outer guiding channel guides said right linkages as said moveable panel moves forward and aft over said base wall; and wherein said cam slots define a lift/lower profile for said front edge of said moveable panel as said moveable panel lifts and lowers with respect to said passenger compartment opening responsive to said forward linkages moving within said cam slots.