Lens holding system

Claim 2

A lens holding system for holding a first lens of a camera lens arrangement to prevent eccentricity beyond a selected tolerance, due to temperature variations, of an optical axis of said first lens and an optical axis of a second lens included in the camera lens arrangement, comprising: first holding means for biasing said first lens in a first axial direction; second holding means for biasing said first lens in a direction opposite the first axial direction; said first and second holding means including respective first and second coupling means extending from peripheral portions of respective holding means for interengagement and for supplying said biasing through elastic deformation of at least one of said coupling means wherein said first coupling means includes a radially extending portion having a free end portion, and said second coupling means includes an axially extending portion with recess means for engaging the free end portion and axially retaining the first coupling means in relation to the second coupling means to prevent relative rotation between said first and second coupling means and eccentricity, beyond said selected tolerance, of said optical axes of said first and second lenses.

Claim 3

A lens holding system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising resilient means interposed between said first and second holding means for biasing said first and second holding means axially away from each other.

Claim 4

A lens holding system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said resilient means comprises a leaf spring arrangement.

Claim 5

A lens holding system as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said first and second coupling means includes means for accommodating a headed fastener.

Claim 6

A lens holding system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said recess means comprises notches on the radially inward side of said axially extending portion of said second coupling means.

Claim 7

A lens holding system for holding a rear lens system of a camera lens arrangement having an optical axis and front and rear lens systems divided a shutter housing, to prevent eccentricity beyond a selected tolerance, due to temperature variations, of the optical axis of said rear lens system and the optical axis of said front lens system, comprising: first holding means for biasing the rear lens system in a first axial direction; second holding means for biasing the rear lens system in a direction opposite the first axial direction; said first and second holding means including respective first and second coupling means extending from peripheral portions of the respective holding means for interengagement and for supplying said biasing through elastic deformation of at least one of said first and second coupling means wherein said first coupling means includes a radially extending portion having a free end portion, and said second coupling means includes an axially extending portion with recess means for engaging the free end portion and axially retaining the first coupling means in relation to the second coupling means to prevent relative rotation between said first and second coupling means and eccentricity, beyond said selected tolerance of said said optical axes of said front and rear lens systems.

Claim 8

A lens holding system for holding a rear lens system of a camera lens arrangement having an optical axis and front and rear lens systems divided a shutter housing, to prevent eccentricity beyond a selected tolerance, due to temperature variations, of the optical axis of said rear lens system and the optical axis of said front lens system, comprising: first holding means for biasing the rear lens system in a first axial direction; second holding means for biasing the rear lens system in a direction opposite the first axial direction; said first and second holding means including respective first and second coupling means extending from peripheral portions of the respective holding means for interengagement and for supplying said biasing through elastic deformation of at least one of said first and second coupling means wherein said first coupling means includes a radially extending portion having a free end portion, and said second coupling means includes an axially extending portion with recess means for engaging the free end portion and axially retaining the first coupling means in relation to the second coupling means to prevent relative rotation between said first and second coupling means and eccentricity, beyond said selected tolerance of said said optical axes of said front and rear lens systems.

Claim 9

A lens holding system as claimed in claim 6 wherein one of said first and second holding means is rear of the other and includes a rear axial surface with a rear circumferential recess.

Claim 10

A lens holding system for holding a first lens of a camera lens arrangement to prevent eccentricity beyond a selected tolerance, due to temperature variations, between an optical axis of said first lens and an optical axis of a second lens included in the camera lens arrangement, comprising: first holding means for biasing said first lens in a first axial direction; second holding means for biasing said first lens in a direction opposite the first axial direction; said first and second holding means including respective first and second coupling means extending from peripheral portions of the respective holding means for interengagement and for supplying said biasing through elastic deformation of at least one of said coupling means, wherein first coupling means includes at least two first flanges extending radially outward, each first flange having a forked free end portion, said second coupling means includes at least two second flanges, each second flange extending first radially outward and then extending axially, the axially extending portion of each second flange having a radially inner surface with notches therein for engaging the forked free end portion of one of said first flanges and preventing relative axial and radial movement between the first and second coupling means.

Claim 11

A lens holding system for holding a first lens of a camera lens arrangement to prevent eccentricity beyond a selected tolerance, due to temperature variations, between an optical axis of said first lens and an optical axis of a second lens included in the camera lens arrangement, comprising: first holding means for biasing said first lens in a first axial direction; second holding means for biasing said first lens in a direction opposite the first axial direction; said first and second holding means including respective first and second coupling means extending from peripheral portions of the respective holding means for interengagement and for supplying said biasing through elastic deformation of at least one of said coupling means, wherein first coupling means includes at least two first flanges extending radially outward, each first flange having a forked free end portion, said second coupling means includes at least two second flanges, each second flange extending first radially outward and then extending axially, the axially extending portion of each second flange having a radially inner surface with notches therein for engaging the forked free end portion of one of said first flanges and preventing relative axial and radial movement between the first and second coupling means.