Panel support structure for expanded sunroof opening

An assembly for a sunroof of a vehicle, comprising:

• a longitudinal rail defining a longitudinal cavity having an opening;
• a first sunroof panel and a second sunroof panel, the first sunroof panel being movable with respect to the second sunroof panel between a closed position of the first sunroof panel and
• a fully open position of the first sunroof panel, the second sunroof panel having a lateral edge;
• and
• a bracket attached to the first sunroof panel so that the first sunroof panel moves with the bracket, a portion of the bracket extending from the first sunroof panel into the rail cavity opening and being operably connected to the rail so as to be movable along the rail cavity opening during movement of the first sunroof panel between the closed position and the fully open position;
• a link extending into the rail cavity opening and structured to be movable along the rail cavity opening, the link being operably connected to the bracket so that the bracket is movable with the link along the rail cavity;
• and
• a drive shoe slidably mounted to the rail so as to be movable along the rail cavity, the drive shoe being operably connected to the link so that the link and the bracket are movable along and within the rail cavity by movement of the drive shoe,
• the assembly being structured so that the portion of the bracket is movable along the rail cavity opening from a first side of a plane extending through the second sunroof panel lateral edge and perpendicular to an opening direction of the first panel, to a second side of the plane opposite the first side of the plane, during movement of the first sunroof panel from the closed position to the fully open position.

An assembly for a vehicle sunroof, comprising:

• a rail defining a longitudinal cavity;
• a first and a second sunroof panel, the first sunroof panel being movable between a closed position and a fully open position, the second sunroof panel having a lateral edge;
• a bracket affixed to the first sunroof panel and operably connected to the rail so as to be movable along the rail cavity;
• a link operably connected to the bracket and structured to be movable with the bracket along the rail cavity;
• and
• a drive shoe slidably mounted to the rail so as to be movable along the rail cavity and operably connected to the link so that the link and the bracket are movable along the rail cavity by movement of the drive shoe,
• the assembly being structured so that the bracket is movable along the rail cavity from a first side of a plane extending through the second sunroof panel lateral edge and perpendicular to an opening direction of the first panel, to a second side of the plane opposite the first side of the plane, during movement of the first sunroof panel from the closed position to the fully open position.