Patent ID: 7350989

Claim:
A lens barrel comprising: a first frame; a barrier-driving member disposed in the first frame, the barrier-driving member being rotatable around an axis parallel with an optical axis of the lens barrel; a second frame movable relative to the first frame, the second frame having a pressing part configured to engage the barrier-driving member as the first and second frames move relative to each other; a barrier blade movable in cooperation with rotation of the barrier-driving member between a closed position to block at least a part of a light path through the first frame and an open position retracted from the light path, the barrier blade having a shaft hole portion; a barrier shaft provided on the barrier-driving member, the barrier shaft engaging the shaft hole portion and functioning as a rotational shaft for the barrier blade; an opening-urging spring which urges the barrier-driving member in a direction to move the barrier blade toward the open position; and a closing-urging spring for providing the barrier blade with an urging force towards the closed position in a case where the barrier blade is displaced from a state in which the barrier blade is at the closed position towards the open position by an external force; wherein the pressing part engages the barrier-driving member so that the barrier-driving member rotates, and the barrier blade rotates from the open position to the closed position, and the pressing part disengages the barrier-driving member whereby the barrier-driving member rotates by the urging force of the opening-urging spring, and the barrier blade rotates from the closed position to the open position.