Molded plastic lens

• US 6,052,232 A
• Filed: 04/29/1998
• Issued: 04/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Iwaki, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Sugarman, Scott J.
• Application Number:
  US09/069,211
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 359/642, 359/811, 359/819
• US Class Current: 359/642
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/022 lens and mount having complementary engagement means, e.g. screw/thread

Abstract

A plastic lens is molded from a suitable transparent thermoplastic resin, and has a lens body and an annular portion integrally formed around the lens body. The annular portion has an annular surface, as a first positioning surface, extending perpendicularly from a peripheral outer edge of a lens surface of the lens body with respect to an optical axis of the lens body, and a peripheral cylindrical surface, as a second positioning surface, extending perpendicularly with respect to the first positioning surface. A right-angled annular corner, defined by an intersection of a hypothetical extension of the first positioning surface and a hypothetical extension of the second positioning surface, is eliminated.

Claims

1. A plastic lens molded from a transparent thermoplastic resin, comprising:

a lens body; and

an annular portion integrally formed around said lens body, said annular portion having an annular surface, said annular surface comprising a first positioning surface that extends perpendicularly from a peripheral outer edge of a lens surface of the lens body with respect to an optical axis of said lens body, and a peripheral cylindrical surface, said peripheral cylindrical surface comprising a second positioning surface that extends perpendicularly with respect to said first positioning surface, such that a projecting right-angled annular corner portion, defined by an intersection of an extension of said first positioning surface and an extension of said second positioning surface, is eliminated, said first positioning surface serving to define a position of said lens body along the optical axis when assembled, said second positioning surface serving to define a position of said lens body in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis when assembled.

2. A plastic lens as set forth in claim 1, wherein the elimination of said projecting right-angled annular corner portion is substituted for a formation of an annular groove between said first positioning surface and said second positioning surface.

3. A plastic lens as set forth in claim 2, wherein said annular groove is formed as a V-shaped groove in a longitudinal-section.

4. A plastic lens as set forth in claim 3, wherein said V-shaped groove is a right-angled V-shaped groove.

5. A plastic lens as set forth in claim 1, wherein the elimination of said projecting right-angled annular corner portion is substituted for a formation of a tapered annular face between said first positioning surface and said second positioning surface.

6. A plastic lens as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first positioning surface is at least a part of the annular surface of said annular portion.

7. A plastic lens as set forth in claims 6, the part of said annular surface of said annular portion extends over an angle of more than 180 degrees.

8. A plastic lens as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first positioning surface is a continuous annular surface.

9. A plastic lens as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first positioning surface is defined by discontinuous arcuate surface sections surrounding the lens face of said lens body.

10. A plastic lens as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second positioning surface is at least a part of the peripheral cylindrical surface of said annular portion.

11. A plastic lens as set forth in claim 10, wherein the part of said peripheral cylindrical surface of said annular portion extends over an angle of more than 180 degrees.

12. A plastic lens as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second positioning surface is a continuous peripheral cylindrical surface.

13. A plastic lens as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second positioning surface is defined by discontinuous peripheral cylindrical surface sections surrounding said annular portion.

14. A combination of a plastic lens, and a lens holder;

said plastic lens including a lens body and an annular portion integrally formed around said lens body, said annular portion having an annular surface, said annular surface comprising a first positioning surface that extends perpendicularly from a peripheral outer edge of a lens surface of the lens body with respect to an optical axis of said lens body, and a peripheral cylindrical surface, said peripheral cylindrical surface comprising a second positioning surface that extends perpendicularly with respect to said first positioning surface, a projecting right-angled annular comer portion, defined by an intersection of an extension of said first positioning surface and an extension of said second positioning surface, being eliminated;

said lens holder having a bore formed therein, said bore having an annular bottom surface extending perpendicularly with respect to a central longitudinal axis of said bore, said annular bottom surface comprising a first positioning surface of said lens holder, which abuts the first positioning surface of said plastic lens, a peripheral cylindrical surface of said bore extending perpendicularly with respect to said annular bottom surface, said peripheral cylindrical surface of said bore comprising a second positioning surface of said lens holder, which abuts the second positioning surface of said plastic lens; and

said second positioning surface of said lens holder having an inner diameter which is substantially equal to an outer diameter of said annular portion of said plastic lens, whereby assembly of said plastic lens in said lens holder can be performned by fitting said plastic lens into said bore.