Lens assembly with engageable lens retainer and lens mount

• US 5,768,649 A
• Filed: 03/06/1997
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Pearson, Douglas H.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, HOWARD BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US08/812,658
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 396/6, 396/529, 359/819
• US Class Current: 396/529
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 19/04 Roll-film cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2219/045 adapted for unloading the film in the processing laboratory, e.g. disposable, reusable or recyclable cameras

Abstract

A lens assembly for a camera comprising a taking lens, a lens mount having a light-admitting opening and several engageable members, and a lens retainer having a light-admitting opening and several engageable members equal in number to the engageable members of the lens mount to permit the respective engageable members of the lens retainer and the lens mount to mutually engage to connect the lens mount and the lens retainer to one another with the taking lens located between the lens mount and the lens retainer in optical alignment with the respective light-admitting openings, is characterized in that the lens retainer has at least one retaining member that engages the taking lens to hold the taking lens securely to the lens retainer in optical alignment with the light-admitting opening of the lens retainer, to permit the lens retainer to be connected with the taking lens intact to the lens mount.

Claims

1. A lens assembly for a camera comprising a taking lens, a lens mount having a light-admitting opening and several engageable members, and a lens retainer having a light-admitting opening and several engageable members equal in number to said engageable members of the lens mount to permit the respective engageable members of the lens retainer and the lens mount to mutually engage to connect the lens mount and the lens retainer to one another with said taking lens located between the lens mount and the lens retainer in optical alignment with the respective light-admitting openings, is characterized in that:

said lens retainer has at least one retaining member that engages said taking lens to hold the taking lens securely to the lens retainer in optical alignment with said light-admitting opening of the lens retainer, to permit said lens retainer to be connected with said taking lens intact to said lens mount.

2. A lens assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said lens retainer has a ring surrounding its light-admitting opening, said engageable members of the lens retainer are arranged to longitudinally project from said ring toward said lens mount, and said retaining member of the lens retainer is arranged to similarly project from said ring toward said lens mount but a lesser distance than said engageable members of the lens retainer.

3. A lens assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said lens mount has a plurality of spaced holes surrounding said light-admitting opening of the lens mount which are equal in number to the respective engageable members of said lens retainer and the lens mount, said engageable members of the lens mount are located adjacent some of said holes and on a rear side of the lens mount remote from said taking lens, said engageable members of the lens retainer are arranged to extend from said ring through some of said holes to said rear side of the lens retainer to engage said engageable members of the lens mount, and said retaining member of the lens retainer is arranged to extend from said ring into one of said holes.

4. A lens assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said taking lens includes a rear lens element and a front lens element, and said retaining member of the lens retainer is arranged to extend from said ring to engage said rear lens element to hold said front lens element securely between the rear lens element and said light-admitting opening of the lens retainer.

5. A lens assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein an aperture stop is located between said front and rear lens elements.

6. A lens assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said lens retainer including said engageable members of the lens retainer and said retaining member of the lens retainer are a single integrally-formed piece.

7. A lens assembly for a camera comprising a taking lens, a lens mount having a centered light-admitting opening and several surrounding engageable members, and a lens retainer having a centered light-admitting opening and several surrounding engageable members equal in number to said engageable members of the lens mount to permit the respective engageable members of the lens retainer and the lens mount to mutually engage to connect the lens mount and the lens retainer to one another with said taking lens located between the lens mount and the lens retainer in optical alignment with the respective light-admitting openings, is characterized in that:

said lens retainer has several retaining members located between the respective engageable members of the lens retainer for engaging said taking lens to hold the taking lens securely to the lens retainer in optical alignment with said light-admitting opening of the lens retainer, to permit said lens retainer to be connected with said taking lens intact to said lens mount.

8. A lens retainer comprising:

a ring having a light-admitting opening;

several resilient lens-engaging members surrounding said light-admitting opening and longitudinally projecting from said ring; and

several resilient lens-mount-engaging members surrounding said light-admitting opening and longitudinally projecting from said ring a greater distance than said lens-engaging members longitudinally project from said ring.

9. A lens retainer as recited in claim 8, wherein said lens-engaging members and said lens-mount-engaging members alternate around said light-admitting opening.

10. A lens retainer as recited in claim 8, wherein said ring and said lens-engaging and lens-mount-engaging members are a single integrally-formed piece.