A bistable structure provided by the invention is characterized as including a
deflection element that has mechanically constrained end points and a compliant
span between the end points that is substantially free to deflect between two stable
positions when a force is applied at a point along the span. The deflection element
span is provided, as-fabricated, curved in one of the two stable positions and
in a mechanically unstressed condition along the length of the span. The as-fabricated
curve of the deflection element span includes a curve maxima at a point along the
span length that is at least about of the span length from the end points
of the span. The deflection element span is constrained to substantially prohibit
development of a second bending mode that is characteristic for the span as the
element deflects between the two stable positions.
