Patent ID: 8033743

Claim:
A sliding mechanism which slides a lens barrier of an imaging apparatus relative to a main body of the imaging apparatus, the imaging apparatus including an imaging lens for focusing light to form an image and the lens barrier to cover the imaging lens from outside, the sliding mechanism comprising: a first cam groove and a second cam groove, each formed on a surface facing the main body of the imaging apparatus, and each having a trajectory substantially parallel to that of the other cam groove; a first engaging member and a second engaging member, each provided to the main body of the imaging apparatus, to guide the lens barrier in a sliding direction, the first engaging member having at least two contact points for contacting the first cam grove, and the second engaging member having at least one contact point for contacting the second cam groove such that said engaging members are in sliding engagement at said contact points with said cam grooves; a connecting member which connects the first engaging member and the second engaging member; and an elastic member which is placed between the connecting member and the first and second engaging members and is fixed to the lens barrier, and pushes the lens barrier against the main body of the imaging apparatus.