Lens assembly
AssigneeOlympus Optical Co., Ltd.
InventorKaneyas Ookawa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lens assembly includes a barrel, the internal surface of which is formed with a lens abutment against which the peripheral edge of the front surface of a lens is supported. The free end of a preferably flexable lens fixing member is disposed to exert pressure on the peripheral edge of the rear surface of the lens, and its rear end is engaged with the barrel to fix the lens in position.
Claims8
A lens fixing member for a lens assembly of the type comprising a lens housing having an interior surface, and at least one lens accommodated in said housing and held in place therein by said lens fixing member, said lens fixing member being formed of a flexible plastic material and comprising:
- a generally cylindrical body having an axis and having a first and a second end;
- a first group of projections integral with and circumferentially approximately equally spaced about said body, and oriented to extend in a first axial direction and to project axially beyond said first end of said body in said first axial direction for engaging one surface of a lens;
- and
- a second group of projections integral with said body, equal in number to and axially aligned with respective ones of said first group of projections, and oriented to extend generally in a second axial direction opposite said first axial direction for engaging the interior surface of said housing.
A lens assembly comprising:
- (A) a barrel for housing a lens;
- (B) support means for supporting one end of a lens in said barrel;
- (C) a lens having a first end and a second end, said first end of said lens being supported by means of said support means;
- (D) a flexible, plastic lens fixing member having a first end and a second end and including:
- (1) a generally cylindrical body having an axis and having a first and a second end;
- (2) at least three first projections integral with and circumferentially approximately equally spaced about said body, and oriented to extend generally parallel to said axis in a first axial direction and to project axially beyond said first end of said body in said first axial direction for engaging one surface of a lens;
- and
- (3) a second plurality of projections integral with said body, equal in number to and axially aligned with respective ones of said first plurality of projections, and oriented to extend generally parallel to said axis in a second axial direction opposite said first axial direction for engaging the interior surface of said housing;
- and
- (E) said lens fixing member being disposed in said barrel and said first end of said lens fixing member snugly engaging said second end of said lens;
- and a plurality of detents formed in said barrel, each of said second plurality of projections engaging a respective said detent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.