The present invention provides a mechanism (300, 400) and method (500) 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, 240) have a common axis of rotation (190), which is
substantially perpendicular to a front surface of the device (100). The
mechanism (300, 400) includes a wheel (310, 410) having a rounded outer
edge (312, 412), which engages a rounded surface (144) of a first housing
element (220), which extends at least partly around the axis of rotation
(190). The wheel (310, 410) is coupled to the second housing element
(120) at a center point (316, 416) about which the wheel (310, 410) is
adapted to rotate. The wheel (310, 410) further includes a contact point
(318, 418) offset from a center point (316, 416). The mechanism (300,
400) further includes a tension device (320, 420) having a relatively
fixed end (324, 424) and a relatively free end (322, 422), which when
preloaded, is adapted for supplying a force. The mechanism (300, 400)
still further includes a linkage (330, 430) coupled between the free end
(322, 422) of the tension device (320, 420) and the offset contact point
(318, 418) of the wheel (310, 410) for biasing the wheel (310, 410)
toward rotation, and the rotation of the first and second housing
elements (120, 220) relative to one another.