Bistable compliant mechanism

A bistable mechanism comprising:

• a) a plurality of segments coupled end-to-end in series to form a continuous chain of segments, the plurality of segments including:
• 1) at least two rigid segments, and
• 2) at least one flexible and resilient segment;
• and
• b) the at least one flexible and resilient segment bending without significant compression to resist relative movement of the segments, but to allow the segments to be selectively moved, the plurality of segments being cooperatively movable relative to one another, and biased by the at least one flexible and resilient segment, between 1) a first, stable, static, equilibrium position, and 2) a second, stable, static, equilibrium position.

A bistable mechanism comprising:

• a) a plurality of segments coupled end-to-end in series to form a continuous chain of segments, the plurality of segments each having a different length, and including:
• 1) at least two rigid segments, and
• 2) at least one flexible and resilient segment;
• and
• b) the at least one flexible and resilient segment being operable to resist relative movement of the segments, but to allow the segments to be selectively moved, the plurality of segments being cooperatively movable relative to one another, and biased by the at least one flexible and resilient segment, between 1) a first, stable, static, equilibrium position, and 2) a second, stable, static, equilibrium position.

An asymmetric bistable mechanism comprising:

• a) a plurality of segments coupled end-to-end in series to form a continuous chain of segments, the plurality of segments including:
• 1) at least two rigid segments, and
• 2) at least one flexible and resilient segment;
• b) the at least one flexible and resilient segment being operable to resist relative movement of the segments, but to allow the segments to be selectively moved, the plurality of segments being cooperatively movable relative to one another, and biased by the at least one flexible and resilient segment, between 1) a first, stable, static, equilibrium position, and 2) a second, stable, static, equilibrium position;
• and
• c) each of the segments having a length which remains constant.

An asymmetric bistable switch device, comprising:

• a) a plurality of segments coupled end-to-end in series to form a continuous chain of segments in an asymmetric configuration, the plurality of segments including:
• 1) at least two rigid segments, and
• 2) at least one flexible and resilient segment;
• b) the at least one flexible and resilient segment being operable to resist relative movement of the segments, but to allow the segments to be selectively moved, the plurality of segments being cooperatively movable relative to one another, and biased by the at least one flexible and resilient segment, between 1) a first, stable, static, equilibrium position, and 2) a second, stable, static, equilibrium position;
• and
• c) two electrical contacts, coupled to the plurality of segments, including a first electrical contact being movable with one of the segments between 1) a first location in which the first electrical contact contacts the second electrical contact defining an on position, and 2) a second location in which the first electrical contact is in a non-contacting relationship with the second electrical contact defining an off position.

An asymmetric bistable mechanism, comprising:

• a) a plurality of segments coupled end-to-end in series to form a continuous chain of segments in an asymmetric configuration, the plurality of segments including:
• 1) at least two rigid segments, and
• 2) at least two flexible and resilient segments;
• and
• b) the at least two flexible and resilient segments being operable to resist relative movement of the segments, but to allow the segments to be selectively moved, the plurality of segments being cooperatively movable relative to one another, and biased by the at least two flexible and resilient segments, between 1) a first, stable, static, equilibrium position, and 2) a second, stable, static, equilibrium position.