A button assembly for a release system comprises a housing and an actuator coupled to the housing and translatable along a first axis. The actuator comprises a contact surface configured for engagement by an operator to translate the actuator along the first axis, and a rack gear extending along the first axis and away from the contact surface. The button assembly further comprises a pinion gear coupled to the housing and rotatable about a second axis, orthogonal to the first axis. The pinion gear is meshed with the rack gear and with the extension member coupled to the pinion gear. The mesh between the pinion gear and the rack gear facilitates rotation of the pinion gear as the rack gear translates, with the rotation of the pinion gear facilitating movement of the extension member and movement of the latch between the engagement and disengagement positions.