other objects push on bone controlled surface?

Question

I have made a basic cardboard box model, and I'm trying to use bones for control/as a hinge. is there a way to make other objects push on the flaps controlled by a bone or must I animate this effect manually?(i.e. dropping a bowling ball onto a close box and having it move th flaps out of the way on the way down)

Do you need to use bones? this could be more easily accomplished other ways. — ruckus, Dec 13 '14 at 22:11
you could use rigidbodys , or make a center IK rig that moves all pieces — Knuckles209cp, Dec 13 '14 at 22:56
@Knuckles209cp I don't think that would work as well as you would expect. — GiantCowFilms, Dec 13 '14 at 23:54
not necessarily need bones if there's another way to bend the flaps without going into edit mode and manually changing the shape. — user16973, Dec 14 '14 at 00:58

MarcClintDion · Answer 1 · 2014-12-14T15:59:35.373

Here, I've set up a simple box that is weight painted so the main bone only influences the flap. The tip bone is there for the IK setup.(not sure I did this entirely right since I'm still just learning this as well)

Anyways, here are a few pics. First you can add a loopcut to the edge of the flap to limit the weight paint so the bone does not affect the rest of the box.

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