Patent ID: 7652830

Claim:
A lens barrel which holds a lens, comprising: (a) a stationary main frame; (b) a plurality of movable frames that are coaxially disposed to be movable back and forth relative to the stationary main frame in a direction of an optical axis of the lens barrel and are inserted telescopically into the stationary frame, the plurality of movable frames including: a first movable frame which moves to a farthest position away from the stationary main frame; and a second movable frame which moves to a next farthest position close to the farthest position where the first movable frame moves, at which the second movable frame is engaged with the first movable frame; and (c) two U-shaped support and drive members each having a first engagement portion, which is rotatably engaged with a periphery of the first movable frame on the same plane or two planes perpendicular to the optical axis, pivots of the support and drive members being orthogonal to each other; wherein each of the support and drive members comprises two arm portions which are engaged with the first movable frame at the first engagement portion, a second engagement portion which is engaged with the stationary main frame on an opposite side of the first engagement portion, and a coupling member which connects the two arm portions; wherein the second engagement portion is pivotally supported on the stationary main frame, the first movable frame is driven by at least one of the support and drive members; wherein the arm portions of the first engagement portion have a pin, and the first movable frame has an elongated hole which is engaged with the pin at the first engagement portion; and wherein the second movable frame has an elongated hole, and the pin of the arm portion of the support and drive member which drives the first movable frame, penetrates the elongated holes of the first and second movable frames.