geeking out with "compliant mechanisms"

It's a simple, smack-your-forehead design: why not lessen the number of parts in a mechanism by using bendable ("compliant") components? You've seen examples of this already in your everyday life. One particularly good example might be a small plastic box in which you could carry your lunch or store random items. In one case, the box opens and closes thanks to traditional hinges, which consist of several parts. In another case, though, your box's hinges are single pieces of plastic, not hole-and-rod constructions. Watch the following video and marvel at the many possible applications of compliant mechanisms.