Patent ID: 8817399

Claim:
A lens barrel for supporting a lens such that the optical axis of the lens is aligned with a central axis of the lens barrel, the lens barrel comprising: (a) a lens receiving surface which extends perpendicular to the central axis, the lens receiving surface being symmetrical about the central axis and having an outer periphery including: (1) first and second circular portions extending in a circular arc centered on the central axis and facing one another across the central axis; and (2) first and second cut out portions facing one another across the central axis; and (b) a pair of side frame portions extending axially from the first and second circular portions, respectively, the first and second side frame portions facing each other across the central axis and extending in circular arcs centered on the central axis, each side frame portion: (1) including a caulking portion on its distal end, the caulking portion being made of a material that allows it to be deformed by external pressure so that when the lens, that is formed in an arc shape that is greater than a semicircle, is placed on the lens receiving surface and the caulking portions are so deformed, the lens will be fixed between the deformed caulking portions and the lens receiving surface; and (2) an outer peripheral surface extending in a circular-arc that is coaxial with the central axis.