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Abstract

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).

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First Claim