Zoom lens barrel for waterproof and/or water-resistant camera

Abstract

A zoom lens barrel having a movable lens barrel which is movable in an optical axis direction, and an opening in which the movable lens barrel is movable in the optical axis direction. The zoom lens barrel further includes a moving frame to which the movable lens barrel is secured to move in the optical axis direction together with the movable lens barrel, and an intermediary member which is positioned between the movable lens barrel and the moving frame. The movable lens barrel is secured to the moving frame through the intermediary member.

I claim: 
     
       1. A zoom lens barrel, comprising: a movable barrel in an optical axis direction;   an opening in which said movable barrel is movable in the optical axis direction;   a moving member to which said movable barrel is secured to move in the optical axis direction together with said movable barrel;   an intermediary member positioned between said movable barrel and said moving member, said intermediary member being fixed with respect to said movable barrel, so that said intermediary member moves together with said movable barrel in the optical axis direction,   wherein said movable barrel is secured to said moving member through said intermediary member.   
     
     
       2. A zoom lens barrel according to claim 1, further comprising a stationary barrel secured to a camera body, said opening being formed at the front end thereof. 
     
     
       3. A zoom lens barrel according to claim 2, further comprising an annular seal member, wherein an outer periphery of said annular seal member is secured to an inner periphery of said stationary barrel, and wherein an inner periphery of said annular seal member is fitted to an outer periphery of said movable barrel. 
     
     
       4. A zoom lens barrel according to claim 1, further comprising an annular seal member, said annular seal member being provided in said opening, and wherein an inner periphery of said annular seal member is fitted to an outer periphery of said movable barrel. 
     
     
       5. A zoom lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein said intermediary member is a substantially C-shaped ring member deformable in a radial direction. 
     
     
       6. A zoom lens barrel according to claim 5, wherein a circumferential groove is formed on an outer periphery of said moving member, and wherein said ring member is engaged with said circumferential groove. 
     
     
       7. A zoom lens barrel according to claim 6, wherein said ring member is secured to an inner periphery of said movable barrel by a connecting means. 
     
     
       8. A zoom lens barrel according to claim 7, wherein said connecting means is a plurality of screws. 
     
     
       9. A zoom lens barrel according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of recessed portions are formed on an inside of said circumferential groove, and wherein said ring member is provided on its inner periphery with projecting portions corresponding to and engaging with said plurality of recessed portions. 
     
     
       10. A zoom lens barrel according to claim 9, wherein said projecting portions are each provided with a threaded hole into which screws are inserted to secure said ring member to said movable barrel. 
     
     
       11. A zoom lens barrel according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of recessed portions are formed on an inside of said circumferential groove, and wherein said ring member is provided on its inner periphery with projecting portions corresponding to and engaging with said plurality of recessed portions. 
     
     
       12. A zoom lens barrel according to claim 11, wherein said projecting portions are each provided with a threaded hole into which screws are inserted to secure said ring member to said movable barrel. 
     
     
       13. A zoom lens barrel according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of recessed portions are formed on an inside of said circumferential groove, and wherein said ring member is provided on its inner periphery with projecting portions corresponding to and engaging with said plurality of recessed portions. 
     
     
       14. A zoom lens barrel according to claim 13, wherein said projecting portions are each provided with a threaded hole into which screws are inserted to secure said ring member to said movable barrel. 
     
     
       15. A zoom lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein said intermediary member is a plurality of nuts. 
     
     
       16. A zoom lens barrel according to claim 15, wherein receiving holes corresponding to said plurality of nuts are provided on an outer periphery of said moving member, said plurality of nuts being inserted into said receiving holes. 
     
     
       17. A zoom lens barrel according to claim 16, wherein said plurality of nuts are each secured to an inner periphery of said movable barrel by means of screws. 
     
     
       18. A zoom lens barrel, comprising: a movable barrel movable in an optical axis direction;   a moving member to be secured to a rearward portion of said movable barrel, said moving member being movable with said movable barrel;   an intermediary member positioned between said movable barrel and said moving member,   wherein said intermediary member is secured to said movable barrel be screws, and   wherein said intermediary member is fitted in said moving member in a flush manner, said intermediary member being fixed to and movable together with said moving member in the optical axis direction.   
     
     
       19. A zoom lens barrel, comprising: a movable barrel movable in an optical axis direction;   a ring member fitted in an inner periphery of said movable barrel and secured thereto by means of screws; and   a moving member in which said ring member is fitted in a flush manner, said ring member being movable together with said moving member in the optical axis direction. .Iadd.   
     
     
       20.  A zoom lens barrel, comprising: a moving member movable along an optical axis direction;   a barrel movable along the optical axis direction, first connecting means provided in said barrel for connecting said barrel to said moving member;   an intermediary member between said barrel and said moving member, and including second connecting means for connecting said barrel to said moving member; and   said first and second connecting means being offset with respect to each other a predetermined distance along the optical axis direction such that said intermediary member is fixed to said barrel, and said moving member is secured to said barrel by engagement of said first connecting means of said barrel and said second connecting means of said intermediary member..Iaddend..Iadd.21. The zoom lens barrel according to claim 20, wherein said first connecting means includes a plurality of screws..Iaddend..Iadd.22. The zoom lens barrel according to claim 21, wherein said intermediary member includes a substantially C-shaped ring member deformable in a radial direction, said second connecting means comprising a plurality of threaded holes in said ring member..Iaddend..Iadd.23. The zoom lens barrel according to claim 22, wherein said moving member has a circumferential groove, said ring member engageable with said circumferential groove..Iaddend..Iadd.24. The zoom lens barrel according to claim 23, further comprising:   said ring member having a plurality of projecting portions disposed along an inner periphery of said ring member; and   said circumferential groove having a plurality of recessed portions, corresponding to and engaging with, said plurality of projecting portions   
     
     
        of said ring member..Iaddend..Iadd.25.  The zoom lens barrel according to claim 24, wherein said threaded holes are provided in said projecting portions of said ring member for engaging corresponding ones of said plurality of screws to secure said barrel to said moving member..Iaddend..Iadd.26. A zoom lens barrel according to claim 25, further comprising: said plurality of projecting portions corresponding to a plurality of holes in said barrel; and   each of said threaded boles of said plurality of projecting portions being offset by said predetermined distance from said corresponding ones of said plurality of holes in said barrel..Iaddend..Iadd.27. A zoom lens barrel according to claim 21, wherein said intermediary member comprises a plurality of nuts..Iaddend..Iadd.28. A zoom lens barrel according 27, wherein said second connecting means includes a plurality of threaded holes defined in said plurality of nuts, into which said plurality of screws are insertable to secure said barrel to said moving member..Iaddend..Iadd.29. The zoom lens barrel according to claim 28, wherein said moving member has a plurality of receiving holes for receiving said plurality of nuts, respectively..Iaddend..Iadd.30. The zoom lens barrel according to claim 20, further comprising:   a stationary barrel secured to a camera and having an opening; and   said barrel being movable through said opening..Iaddend..Iadd.31. The zoom lens barrel according to claim 30, further comprising an annular seal member provided in said opening, an inner periphery of said annular seal   
     
     
        member contacting an outer surface of said barrel..Iaddend..Iadd.32.  The zoom lens barrel according to claim 31, an outer periphery of said annular seal member being secured to an inner periphery of said stationary barrel..Iaddend..Iadd.33. A zoom lens barrel for a camera including a lens barrel movable in an optical axis direction and a frame to which said lens barrel is attached, said frame movable in the optical axis direction together with said lens barrel, said zoom lens barrel comprising: an intermediary member positioned between said lens barrel and said frame; and   connecting means for rigidly connecting said intermediary member and said lens barrel, whereby said lens barrel is pressed against said frame in the optical axis direction by said connecting means..Iaddend..Iadd.34. The zoom lens barrel according to claim 33, further comprising a camera body including a camera opening through which said lens barrel is movable in the optical axis direction..Iaddend..Iadd.35. The zoom lens barrel according to claim 34, further comprising an annular seal member arranged in said camera opening, an inner peripheral surface of said seal member being adjacent to an outer peripheral surface of said movable lens barrel..Iaddend..Iadd.36. The zoom lens barrel according to claim 35, an outer peripheral surface of said annular seal member being secured to an inner peripheral surface of a stationary lens barrel mounted to said camera body..Iaddend..Iadd.37. The zoom lens barrel according to claim 33, said intermediary member comprising a C-shaped ring which is elastically deformable in a radial direction..Iaddend..Iadd.38. The zoom lens barrel according to claim 37, a circumferential groove provided in an outer peripheral surface of said frame, said ring engaged with said circumferential groove..Iaddend..Iadd.39. The zoom lens barrel according to claim 38, wherein said ring is secured to an inner peripheral surface of said lens barrel through said connecting means..Iaddend..Iadd.40. The zoom lens barrel according to claim 39, said connecting means comprising a plurality of screws..Iaddend..Iadd.41. The zoom lens barrel according to claim 40, a plurality of recesses formed on an inner surface of said circumferential groove, and said ring including projecting portions on an inner peripheral surface, said projecting portions corresponding to and engageable with said plurality of recesses..Iaddend..Iadd.42. The zoom lens barrel according to claim 41, said projecting portions each have a threaded hole into which screws are engageable for connecting said ring and said lens barrel..Iaddend..Iadd.43. The zoom lens barrel according to claim 33, said intermediary member comprising a plurality of nuts..Iaddend..Iadd.44. The zoom lens barrel according to claim 43, further comprising accommodating holes provided on an outer periphery of said frame, said nuts being insertable into said accommodating holes..Iaddend..Iadd.45. The zoom lens barrel according to claim 44, further comprising screws for connecting said nuts to an inner peripheral surface of said lens barrel..Iaddend.