Non-planar closed-loop hinge mechanism with rolling-contact hinge

A hinged mechanism comprising:

• panels;
• and
• hinges connecting respective pairs of the panels to each other in a closed loop so that the hinged mechanism is non-planar, wherein at least one of the hinges is a rolling-contact hinge, the hinged mechanism forming an asymmetric vertex.

A hinged mechanism comprising:

• panels;
• and
• hinges connecting respective pairs of the panels to each other in a closed loop so that the hinged mechanism is non-planar in at least a first position and is substantially planar in at least a second position, wherein at least one of the hinges is a rolling-contact hinge, wherein the rolling-contact hinge has rolling surfaces, and wherein the rolling-contact hinge is configured so that the rolling surfaces remain in contact with each other without substantial slippage throughout a range of motion of the hinged mechanism.

A hinged mechanism comprising:

• at least four hinges;
• and
• at least four panels, wherein respective pairs of the at least four panels are connected to each other in a closed loop by respective ones of the at least four hinges, wherein each panel forms a respective sector angle of the closed loop, and wherein at least two of the at least four panels have different sector angles.