Abstract: There is provided an airbag device being excellent in performance of protection of an occupant wherein a folded airbag (10) undergoes sequential and orderly expansion starting from a region where the expansion ought to be started. It is characterized in that a gas rectification member (12?) for rectifying and guiding a gas generated from an inflator (30) up to the vicinity of a part of the airbag (10), inflating in the initial expansion thereof, is provided substantially at the central part of the airbag (10).

Abstract: The present invention provides a lens guide mechanism, a lens barrel, and an image pickup apparatus. A lens guide mechanism relating to the present invention includes: a plurality of lens frames each including a sliding section; and a guide shaft engaged with the sliding sections of the lens frames for slidably guiding the lens frames along an optical axis. The sliding section includes a contact portion in contact with the guide shaft. The sliding sections of neighboring lens frames are formed so as to overlap with each other at least when the neighboring lens frames come closer to each other.

Abstract: A camera having a zooming function, including plural lens groups, a fixed frame fixed to a main body of the camera, a cam member engaging with the fixed frame so that the cam member is movable in the optical axis direction of the lens groups, and plural lens group supporting frames each engaging with the cam member and supporting each of the plural lens groups so that the lens group supporting frames may move in the optical axis direction to move the lens groups in the optical axis direction.

Abstract: A lens driving device includes a lens frame for holding a photographic lens; a guide member for guiding the lens frame in a direction of an optical axis of the lens; a lead screw for moving the lens frame in the optical axis direction; a drive source for rotating the lead screw; and a carriage for being in pressure contact with the lead screw and thereby for converting a rotational motion of the lead screw caused by the drive source to a linear motion in a direction parallel to the optical axis direction which is a moving direction of the guide member. When pressure contact points between the carriage and the lead screw are projected onto a plane perpendicular to a rotational axis of the lead screw, a projected image includes at least three pressure contact points.