Band employing bistable magnetic actuator with hands free actuation

A band configured to wrap around and be secured to an object, said band comprising:

• at least three members pivotably connected to one another so as to be pivotable with respect to each other between an open position and a closed position, the first member comprising an outwardly disposed face defining an imaginary plane and each of the second and third members comprising an actuator prong that extends outwardly beyond the imaginary plane when the second and third members are in the open position and that is retracted to no longer extend outwardly beyond the imaginary plane when the second and third members are in the closed position;
• wherein a first member of said at least three members comprises a first diametrically magnetized magnet and a second diametrically magnetized magnet disposed at opposite ends thereof, wherein a second member of said at least three members comprises a third diametrically magnetized magnet and wherein a third member of said at least three members comprises a fourth diametrically magnetized magnet;
• wherein the first and second members are configured such that when the first and second members are pivoted with respect to each other past a threshold position toward the closed position, the first and second members are biased toward the closed position by forces created by the first and third magnets and when the first and second members are pivoted with respect to each other past the threshold position toward the open position, the first and second members are biased toward the open position by forces created by the first and third magnets;
• wherein the first and third members are configured such that when the first and third members are pivoted with respect to each other past a threshold position toward the closed position, the first and third members are biased toward the closed position by forces created by the second and fourth magnets and when the first and third members are pivoted with respect to each other past the threshold position toward the open position, the first and third members are biased toward the open position by forces created by the second and fourth magnets;
• and
• wherein movement of the object into contact with the first member so as to exert actuation forces toward the outwardly disposed face when the actuator prongs of the second and third members are in contact with a surface causes the second and third members to move from the open position to the closed position due to forces created between the actuator prongs and the surface.