Patent ID: 8031416

Claim:
An endoscope comprising: a front group optical frame which holds a first objective optical system; a rear group optical frame which holds a second objective optical system; an objective optical system which is composed of at least two optical frames which are the front group optical frame and the rear group optical frame; a front group engaging section which is formed on the front group optical frame; a rear group engaging section which is formed on the rear group optical frame and is to be engaged with the front group engaging section; coupling support means for engaging the front group engaging section and the rear group engaging section, thereby coupling and supporting the front group optical frame relative to the rear group optical frame such that rotation of the front group optical frame about an optical axis, relative to the rear group optical frame, is restricted, the front group optical frame is adjustably movable along an optical axis direction relative to the rear group optical frame, and the front group optical frame is adjustably movable rotationally about an axis perpendicular to the optical axis, relative to the rear group optical frame; and a fixing section which integrally fixes the front group optical frame and the rear group optical frame, positions of disposition of which are adjusted by the coupling support means, wherein the rear group engaging section includes portions configured to exert an urging force on a portion of the front group engaging section to fix the front and rear group optical frames together in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the rear group optical frame, a slit in the rear group engaging section with a length of the slit being shorter than a length of a portion of the front group engaging section held in the slit of the rear engaging section, and the rear group engaging section is configured to serve as the fixing section.