The present invention provides a mechanism and method for rotating at
least a first and second housing elements (120, 220) of a device (100)
with respect to one another. The first and second housing elements (120,
220) have a common axis of rotation (270), which is substantially
perpendicular to a front surface of the device (100). The mechanism
includes a first transport (302), a second transport (304), a tension
device (306), and an engagement member (400). The first and second
transports (302, 304) selectively engage contact elements (308, 310) of
the first and second housing elements (120, 220) and selectively travel
about a ring path as the first and second housings rotate relative to one
another. The tension device (306) has a first end (316) coupled to the
first transport (302) and a second end (318) coupled to the second
transport (304) at a point which travels around the axis of rotation
(270) along a path, where the path extends at least partly around the
axis of rotation (270) at a distance from the axis of rotation (270). The
tension device (306) biases the rotational relationship of the first
(120) and second (220) housing elements toward an opened position. The
engagement member (400) is engaged with one of the first and second
housing elements (120, 220) and is releasably engaged with the other one
of the first and second housing elements (120, 220). The mechanism
maintains the first and second housing elements (120, 220) in a closed
position, when the engagement member (400) is engaged with the other one
of the first and second housing elements (120, 220).