Zoom lens

Claim 2

A lens comprising a housing, first, second and third lens groups in first, second and third mounts therefor, respectively, a guide member, said guide member supporting said mounts thereon and having first, second and third guide means, respectively, for predetermining unequal axial movement of said three mounts to vary the focal length of said lens, an operating member movable axially and rotatively with respect to said guide means, said operating member coupled to said lens mounts so that axial movement thereof with respect to said guide member causes said mounts to move axially with unequal movement in accordance with the respective guide means to vary the focal length of said lens, and means coupling said operating member to said guide member whereby rotation of said operating member shifts said guide member axially of said housing member for focusing of said lens with said mounts in fixed relation.

Claim 3

The lens of claim 1 wherein said guide member further mounts a fourth lens group therein.

Claim 4

The lens of claim 2 wherein said guide means comprise first, second and third slots in said guide member and said mounts carry first, second and third followers extending into said slots.

Claim 5

The lens of claim 3 wherein said guide member is tubular in form, said first mount has a rearwardly extending cylindrical portion overlying said guide member and slidably carried thereon, at least one longitudinally directed slot in said first mount, said second follower extending from said operating member through said longitudinal slot and said second cam slot to said second mount.

Claim 6

The lens of claim 4 wherein said second mount is movable axially and rotatively in said guide member, a second longitudinal slot defined in said second mount, and a first follower extending from said first mount through said first slot in said guide member into said second longitudinal slot whereby rotative movement of said second mount causes said first mount to move in accordance with said first slot.

Claim 7

The lens of claim 5 wherein said third mount is disposed within said guide member and movable axially and rotatively therein, a third follower extending from said third mount through another longitudinal slot in said second mount into said third slot in said guide member.

Claim 8

The lens of claim 1 wherein said operating member is a sleeve coaxial with said guide member, a focusing member rotatable with respect to said housing, said coupling means comprising a longitudinal slot in said sleeve member receiving a pin therein carried by a connecting sleeve member, said connecting sleeve member connecting said focusing member to said operating member, said guide member being threadably coupled to said focusing member and restrained from rotation.

Claim 9

A lens assembly comprising a housing, a cylindrical member in said housing, first and second lens groups including first and second mounts therefor coaxially supported on said cylindrical member, first and second guide means on said cylindrical member, a follower member on each of said mounts adapted to cooperate with one of said guide means to predetermine movement of said mounts with respect to said cylindrical member, said guide means having both axial and rotational directional components, an operating member, means mounting said operating member for axial and rotational movement with respect to said cylindrical member, said operating member connected to one of said mounts so that axial movement of said operating member moves said one mount axially and rotatively with respect to said cylindrical member in accordance with the guide means for said one mount, means connecting said one mount to said other mount so that rotation of said first mount causes said second mount tO move axially and rotatively in its guide means whereby longitudinal movement of said operating member produces unequal axial movement of said mounts with respect to said cylindrical member, and means connecting said operating member to said cylindrical member so that rotation of said operating member shifts said cylindrical member axially with said mounts in fixed relation.

Claim 10

A lens assembly comprising a housing, a cylindrical member in said housing, first and second lens groups including first and second mounts therefor coaxially supported on said cylindrical member, first and second guide means on said cylindrical member, a follower member on each of said mounts adapted to cooperate with one of said guide means to predetermine movement of said mounts with respect to said cylindrical member, said guide means having both axial and rotational directional components, an operating member, means mounting said operating member for axial and rotational movement with respect to said cylindrical member, said operating member connected to one of said mounts so that axial movement of said operating member moves said one mount axially and rotatively with respect to said cylindrical member in accordance with the guide means for said one mount, means connecting said one mount to said other mount so that rotation of said first mount causes said second mount tO move axially and rotatively in its guide means whereby longitudinal movement of said operating member produces unequal axial movement of said mounts with respect to said cylindrical member, and means connecting said operating member to said cylindrical member so that rotation of said operating member shifts said cylindrical member axially with said mounts in fixed relation.

Claim 11

The lens assembly of claim 8 further including a third lens group and mount therefor, said third mount having a cylindrical portion slidably carried on the outer surface of said cylindrical member, a third guide means on said cylindrical member for said third mount, and means connecting one of said first and second mounts to said one mount through said third guide means whereby rotative movement of said one mount moves said third mount in accordance with said third guide means.

Claim 12

The lens of claim 9 wherein said guide means are slots in said cylindrical member, said one mount has first and second longitudinal slots therein and said third mount has at least one longitudinal slot therein, a first pin from said operating member extending through said at least one longitudinal slot and the first guide slot in said cylindrical member to said one mount, a second pin carried by said second mount and extending through the other longitudinal slot in said second mount to the second guide slot in said cylindrical member, a third pin from said third mount extending through said third guide slot into one of the longitudinal slots in said second mount.

Claim 13

A lens comprising a housing member, a focusing member in said housing and rotative with respect thereto, a lens guide member in threaded engagement with said focusing member and restrained from rotation whereby rotative movement of said focusing member shifts said support and guide member axially of said housing, first and second lens groups in first and second mounts, respectively, said mounts carried on said guide member, first and second guide means on said guide member for predetermining relative unequal axial motion of said first and second mounts on said guide member, an operating member disposed about said guide member and connected to said focusing member so that rotation of said operating member rotates said focusing member and axially shifts said guide member, and means connecting said operating member to said lens mounts so that axial movement of said operating member moves said mounts axially of said guide member in accordance with said guide means.

Claim 14

A lens comprising a housing member, a focusing member in said housing and rotative with respect thereto, a lens guide member in threaded engagement with said focusing member and restrained from rotation whereby rotative movement of said focusing member shifts said support and guide member axially of said housing, first and second lens groups in first and second mounts, respectively, said mounts carried on said guide member, first and second guide means on said guide member for predetermining relative unequal axial motion of said first and second mounts on said guide member, an operating member disposed about said guide member and connected to said focusing member so that rotation of said operating member rotates said focusing member and axially shifts said guide member, and means connecting said operating member to said lens mounts so that axial movement of said operating member moves said mounts axially of said guide member in accordance with said guide means.

Claim 15

A lens assembly comprising a housing member, a focusing member rotatable in said housing, a cylindrical lens support member threadably connected to said focusing member but restrained from rotation so that upon rotation of said focusing member said support member is axially shifted, an operating member comprising inner and outer sleeves, means connecting said outer sleeve to said focusing member whereby rotation of said operating member rotates said focusing member while allowing said operating member to move axially with respect to said focusing member, a lens mount coaxially disposed with respect to said support member and mounting a lens group therein, a guide slot having rotative and axial components defined in said support member, a follower extending from said mount through a guide slot, a connecting member between said follower and said inner sleeve whereby axial movement of said operating member produces axial and rotative motion of said lens mount in said guide slot to change the focal length of said lens, said connecting member including a pin extending into a substantially annularly directed slot in said inner sleeve having an axial pitch essentially the same as the pitch of the threaded connection of said support member to said focusing member.

Claim 16

A lens assembly comprising a housing member, a focusing member rotatable in said housing, a cylindrical lens support member threadably connected to said focusing member but restrained from rotation so that upon rotation of said focusing member said support member is axially shifted, an operating member comprising inner and outer sleeves, means connecting said outer sleeve to said focusing member whereby rotation of said operating member rotates said focusing member while allowing said operating member to move axially with respect to said focusing member, a lens mount coaxially disposed with respect to said support member and mounting a lens group therein, a guide slot having rotative and axial components defined in said support member, a follower extending from said mount through a guide slot, a connecting member between said follower and said inner sleeve whereby axial movement of said operating member produces axial and rotative motion of said lens mount in said guide slot to change the focal length of said lens, said connecting member including a pin extending into a substantially annularly directed slot in said inner sleeve having an axial pitch essentially the same as the pitch of the threaded connection of said support member to said focusing member.