Patent Publication Number: US-6659494-B1

Title: Backwards release ski binding on a pivot plate mount

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a continuation in part claiming priority to provisional U.S. application No. 60/224,312 filed Aug. 10, 2000 and parent U.S. application Ser. No. 09/748,970 filed Dec. 27, 2000. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to automatically via a ski pole transmitter releasing ski bindings by pushing a button on the ski pole bindings or another transmitter button remote from the ski bindings and optionally activating a sound module on the ski. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is estimated that over 10,000 crippling knee injuries occur each ski season in Colorado, U.S.A., alone. Extrapolating worldwide there might be over 50,000 knee injuries each ski season worldwide. Great advances have been made in downhill ski bindings to automatically release during violent forward falls. Several problems exist with the best downhill ski bindings. 
     The most serious problem is the slow, twisting backward fall. Most anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries occur with this type of fall. Expert skiers teaching children fall during a lesson and tear their ACL. A damaged ACL can be treated with a modern, complex, and expensive surgery called a patella tendon graft replacement for the ACL. Other body parts such as the hamstring tendon can also be used to replace the damaged ACL. 
     Thus, two surgeries are required. First a body part such as the patella tendon is harvested. Second the damaged ACL is removed and replaced with the harvested body part. 
     A good result requires six months of the replacement ACL to gain strength and function like the original ACL. About a year&#39;s physical therapy is required to regain maximum use of the leg. Two wounds must heel, without infection. Stiffness in the knee joint sometimes leads to loss of full range of motion. Atrophy of the leg muscles from the down time of surgery adds stress to the already weakened knee. Additional ACL and related injuries do occur. An average cost of one procedure with therapy is about $15,000.00. 
     All this misery can stem from one careless fall backwards while standing in the ski line. Following your child at 3 mph can lead to a slow backwards fall and a crippling ACL injury. Nobody has invented a working solution to this one worst injury so frequently caused by a careless moment on downhill skis. 
     A large portion (perhaps half) of all ACL injuries occur at slow speeds falling backwards. Therefore, a couple of seconds of reaction time exists for a trained skier (either novice or expert) to push an emergency release button on his ski pole handle and totally eject from his skis. With the present invention by the time the skier hits the ground, he&#39;s out of his skis without exerting any rotational torque to his knees. Properly trained skiers using the present invention can reduce the risk of ACL injury by a large percent, perhaps even half. This could mean 25,000 fewer worldwide ACL injuries a year and a much safer sport overall. 
     Other uses for this emergency release system (also called a bail out™ system) include easy release for beginners so they can spend less time learning to stand up, and more time skiing. Upside down skiers in a tree hole can quickly release and quickly get out of a dangerous situation. A lost ski can be found in powder by activating a sound module powered by the same battery as is the binding release mechanism. 
     The basic principle of the present invention is to mount the heel and/or toe release segment of a ski binding on a short track. Pushing the release button energizes a stored force on the ski to move the heel and/or toe binding along the track to a position larger than the ski boot. The result is a size 10 boot in a size 12 binding. The skier is instantly free of his skis. 
     To remount the skier resets his binding to the loaded and properly sized position, steps in, and skis as usual. 
     PRIOR ART NOWAK (U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,283)/ARDUIN (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,513,872 AND 5,556,122) DISCUSSION 
     Nowak describes a heel binding member which is mounted on a plate. The plate 1 has a forward axle 41 which allows the heel binding member to pivot up a small distance, thereby activating a force receiver which releases a releasable heel jaw 17′ at a preset upward force. The plate 1 also has a centrally located pin and socket joint to allow the plate 1 to slide left and right a small distance, thereby activating the force receiver which releases the releasable heel jaw 17′ at a preset side to side force. The rear of the plate also has a ski fixed abutment 2 which houses the force receiver. Thus, the plate 1 requires three anchor points as taught by Nowak. Nowak does not teach nor support a pivotable heel plate which has only a single axle attachment to the ski, wherein the pivotable heel plate supports a prior art spring action step in heel binding member. 
     The Arduin references are assigned to Salomon®, which company also makes the new Pilot® system noted in Applicant&#39;s specification. Arduin &#39;122 at col. 3, line 61, states that the toe and heel elements are affixed to the stiffening blade 5 which is affixed to the ski 4 (see FIG. 4). One embodiment shows stiffening blade 5 as a single piece, and one shows it to be two portions (col. 6, line 43). In either case the stiffening blade 5 supports the heel binding member along a plurality of contact points with the base of the ski. The Pilot® system only has a single pivot support structure for attachment of the pivotable heel plate to the base of the ski. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The main aspect of the present invention is to provide a track on a ski binding element, wherein a remote release button powers the ski binding element to move on the track to a position larger than the skier&#39;s proper boot and binding locked position. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a transmitter button on a ski pole to activate the movement of the ski binding on the track. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a spring having an electronically activated release mechanism on the ski to move the binding element on the track. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a compressed gas canister on the ski to move the ski binding element on the track. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a mounting plate with a track to house a toe and heel element of a ski binding. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a loud “bang” noise by remote control in order to locate a ski lost in powder. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to use colored gas to more easily locate a lost ski in powder by remote control. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a sound module such as a chirper chip on the ski binding to remotely sound off the sound module to help locate a lost ski. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to mount the release mechanism on a pivoting mounting plate on either the toe or heel binding segment (or both), wherein the pivoting mounting plate is designed to create a “no flat spot” curved edge in a carved turn. 
     Other aspects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views. 
     The preferred embodiment uses the stored energy of a spring in a housing mounted to the rear of a ski binding heel element. A radio signal activated mechanism releases the spring which moves the ski binding heel element back along a track to very rapidly release a skier from his binding. 
     To reload the spring a ratchet and handle may be used to load the spring and move the ski binding heel element forward to the skiing position. 
     All normal functions of a modern, forward release ski binding remain intact. 
     The preferred embodiment of the track style release binding is factory built with the initial ski binding integrated into the ski via a pivoting mounting plate. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a right side plan view of a gas operated release embodiment. 
     FIG. 2 is the same view as FIG. 1 with the ski boot released. 
     FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the gas operated release mechanism. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 6 is the same view as FIG. 3 with the gas cylinder unopened. 
     FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along line  7 — 7  of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along line  8 — 8  of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 9 is a right side partial sectional view of a plank mount embodiment. 
     FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the plank mount embodiment. 
     FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken along line  11 — 11  of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 12 is a right side plan view of the plank mount embodiment. 
     FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of an alternate embodiment gas release mechanism. 
     FIG. 14 is a right side plan view of a toe piece track release embodiment. 
     FIG. 15 is a partial cutaway view of the ski pole handle transmitter. 
     FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view taken along line  16 — 16  of FIG.  15 . 
     FIG. 17 is a top perspective view of a spring release mechanism embodiment on a traditional ski. 
     FIG. 18 is a left side plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG.  17 . 
     FIG. 19 is a right side view of the embodiment shown in FIG.  17 . 
     FIG. 20 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG.  17 . 
     FIG. 21 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG.  17 . 
     FIG. 22 is a rear plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG.  17 . 
     FIG. 23 is a front plan view of the spring housing of the embodiment shown in FIG.  17 . 
     FIG. 24 is a longitudinal sectional view of the spring housing (released) of the spring release embodiment taken along line  24 — 24  of FIG.  22 . 
     FIG. 25 is a same view as FIG. 24 with the spring housing locked. 
     FIG. 26 is the same view as FIG. 17, but the binding housing has an optional sound module, a chirper chip. 
     FIG. 27 (prior art) is a longitudinal sectional view of a Dynastar® floating heel plate ski. 
     FIG. 28 is a top perspective view of a spring release embodiment mounted on the ski shown in FIG.  27 . 
     FIG. 29 is a side plan view of a Salomon® Pilot™ integrated ski and binding system. 
     FIG. 30 is a top perspective view of the preferred embodiment, a pivoting mounting plate type ski having the binding heel element mounted on the rear pivoting mounting plate. 
    
    
     Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring first to FIG. 1 a downhill ski  1  has a traditional forward release binding system  2  comprising a toe release mechanism  3 , a heel release mechanism  4  and a snow brake  5 . When the skier  7  falls forward his boot  6  moves forward in direction F thereby releasing the binding system  2  in a known manner. Upon release the snow brake  5  is thrust downward. 
     The heel release systems (both gas and spring) mount the heel release system  4  on a track  11 . Anchors  8 , 9  hold the track  11  on the ski  1  and enable the track  11  to move forward and backward. Fasteners  10  hold the anchors  8 , 9  to the ski  1 . 
     The heel release mechanism  12  has a piston arm  13  that is shown holding the heel release system  4  in the forward skiing position. The binding system  2  functions as a standard ski release system. The piston arm  13  connects to a flange  15  at the rear of the track  11 . A hole (not shown) in the flange accepts the piston arm  13 . Adjustment nuts  14  clamp the piston arm  13  to the flange  15 . 
     The body  16  of the release mechanism  12  has a gas cylinder chamber filled with compressed (preferably) CO 2  gas which forces a piston forward as shown. 
     The principle of the release systems of the present embodiment use the concept that moving the heel release mechanism  4  a distance D 2  (or a portion thereof) opens the binding system  2  to a size too big to hold the boot  6 . The boot  6  will release in every direction especially backward when the binding system  2  is opened via the track  11 . The distance D 1  is the proper distance between the toe and heel release members to fit the boot  6 . In prototype mode the distance D 2  is about a half-inch. 
     The release mechanism  12  shown is a CO 2  gas cartridge activated device. The skiing position shown has a gas cylinder cartridge  18  in the housing  16 , wherein the lever arm  17  has pushed the head of the cartridge  18  into the puncture pin  21  inside the housing. A piston (FIG.  3 , 30 ) is forced forward. Thereby holding the track  11  in the skiing position. This is a failsafe design in that a failure in the gas system results in the track moving backward, wherein the skier can&#39;t lock into his bindings. 
     For a release (either emergency or normal) a radio signal is received by the receiver  19 . A linear motor or equivalent device such as a solenoid raises a plug  20  and releases the compressed gas from the housing  16 . Then a powerful spring forces the piston (FIG. 3,  30 ) backward, quickly releasing the boot  6  from the binding system  2 . 
     Referring next to FIG. 2 the skier  7  has hit his release button (preferably located on his ski pole handle). At release time the skier was leaning back. His boot has released up U and back B. Thus, an injury to the ACL has been avoided. Prototypes prove this release, even in a fully loaded (backward) fall position, will occur before the skier hits the ground. 
     At release time the snow brake  5  has pivoted down via the brake release pedal  31  in a known manner. Distance D 3  is too long to hold the boot  6  in the binding system  2 . Distance D 4  is less than D 2 , and is a design choice. The prototype worked at D 2 −D 4 =one inch. 
     Referring next to FIGS.  3 , 4 , 5  the prototype gas release system  12  is shown. The body  160  houses a plunger  35  for controlling the compressed gas CG. The lever arm  17  can be pivoted to the open and closed positions. The opening spring  42  has been compressed by the force of the compressed gas CG in the cylinder  34  on the piston  30 . The channel  33  provides a fluid communication with the cylinder  34 . An optional maintenance cap  53  is shown. 
     To release the skier from the binding the spring  42  needs to be released, and cylinder  34  is discharged. This is done by retracting plug  20  from detent  377  in plunger  35 . Gas in cylinder  34  pushes thru port  349  moving plunger  35  to rear of port  349  breaking seal at “O” ring  349 ′S and exposing exhaust port  349  EXH, as shown in FIG.  6 . This allows gas in cylinder  34  to escape to open atmosphere via vent  3490  and release all pressure on spring  42 . Since piston arm  13  is attached to flange  15  by adjusting nuts  14  (two each), it moves track  11  and removes all holding power from the heel release  4 . This immediately disconnects ski boot  6  from ski  1 . As gas exits from port  3490  the tone of sound and decibel loudness may be greatly changed by size and design of port  3490 . 
     When the cylinder  34  needs to be discharged, plug  20  is pulled up by a linear motor (not shown) in the actuator/receiver housing  39 . The battery  370  powers both the radio receiver (not shown) and the linear motor. When the linear motor is in the valve closed position as shown in FIG. 4, the cylinder outlet  349  is closed by the plunger  35 . The plunger  35  is held in the closed position by the plug  20  that fits into detent  377 . A linkage  41  to the linear motor moves the valve stem  20  from the valve open VO to the valve closed VC positions. 
     In FIG. 5 the head  50  of the CO 2  cartridge  18  can be seen. It is pierced by the puncture pin  21  when the lever arm  17  is closed manually. Bolts  52  secure the housing  16  to the ski  1 . The weight of the heel release mechanism  12  in the prototype was 1½ pounds, which did not effect skiing. The radio transmitter/receiver and linear motor of the prototype were taken from a radio controlled model airplane. 
     Referring next to FIGS.  6 , 7 , 8  the release system  12  has been released via the receiver  38  activating the linear motor to pull the linkage  41  to the valve open VO position. Compressed gas has escaped through the cylinder outlet  349  and port  3490 . A design choice allows a loud “bang” type noise (to find skis in powder) or a quiet mode. Also a colored gas can be used to help find skis in powder. 
     For re-charging the system a new cartridge  180  is shown in dots. The lever arm  17  is shown open. 
     Referring next to FIGS.  9 , 10 , 11 , 12  the equivalent system to that shown in FIGS. 1-8 has been modified to include a mounting board  900  that holds all the system components. The mounting board  900  is screwed to the ski  1  with screws  910 . A groove  912  on the top of the mounting board  900  houses the track  11 . The track  11  has the same flange  15 . The ends of the groove at  913 , 914  are sized to allow the proper movement of track  11 . Holes  902  provide for proper installation of the heel release  4  based on size. This mounting board could be used for the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 22-30. 
     Referring next to FIG. 13 a reverse action gas release system is shown wherein the track  11  and flange  15  are the same as the earlier embodiment. In this case the skiing position is shown wherein the spring  1302  holds the piston  1301  all the way forward as shown. No compressed gas has been discharged yet. 
     The receiver and linear motor unit  1305  is activated by the same radio signal as the earlier embodiment. The linear motor unit  1305  forces a probe  1304  into the head of the compressed gas cylinder  18 . Compressed gas CG flows through the channel  1306  to the cylinder  1300 , thereby forcing the piston  1301  and the flange  15  backward and releasing the skier (normally without a bang). The piston ring  1307  is designed to slowly release the compressed gas after release (in perhaps a minute). For loading up the gas canister  18  a latch type door  1303  may be used. 
     Referring next to FIG. 14 a moving toe piece embodiment is shown. The heel piece  4  remains fixed while the toe piece  3  is pulled forward FR by the flange  15  in a like manner as the earlier embodiments. In this case the ski moves backward relative to the release system  12 , wherein in the heel mounted release systems the ski moves forward. 
     Referring next to FIGS.  15 , 16  the ski pole  1500  has a handle  1501 . An activator button  1502  is mounted on top of the handle for thumb activation. Accidental discharges are prevented by safety switch  1503 . The safety on S-ON position prevents the depressing of button  1502  because segment  1509  inserts into a hole in button  1503 , locking it. In the safety off position S-OFF the button  1502  is free to be activated. Normally the skier would move to the S-OFF position only during a ski run, not on the lift or during transport. 
     For release the button  1502  closes switch  1504 . The battery  1505  energizes the transmitter  1506  which sends signals  1508  to the ski mounted receiver. Known multiple frequency methods are used to create a large number of different frequencies in the field so as to prevent one skier releasing another&#39;s bindings. Short range transmitters also minimize this risk. 
     Referring next to FIG. 17 a ski boot  220  is shown stepping into a prior art downhill ski binding  221  which consists of a toe piece  222  and a heel piece  223 . The dotted lines of the ski boot  220  show the traditional downward movement of the ski boot  220  for locking into the ski binding  221 . The toe piece  222  is screwed into the ski  224  in a known manner. The proper mounting distance between the toe piece and heel piece for boot  220  is shown as D 2  (distance for skiing). 
     The heel piece is mounted to the track  225  instead of the ski  224 . The track  225  can be a flat metal strip which slides under anchors  226  which are fastened to the ski with screws (or bolts)  227 . A notch  231  under the anchors  226  receives the moveable track  225 . When the spring release mechanism  230  pulls the track rearward for a release, (shown by arrow) then the distance between the toe and heel pieces increases to D r  (distance for release). 
     The track  225  has a rear flange  228  which is connected to a shaft  229 , which in turn is directly attached too a central piston (FIG. 25,  300 ). The spring release mechanism consists for a main housing  232 , a receiver  234 , a solenoid  235 , an electronics housing  2350 , a plunger  236 , a trigger  237 , and a trigger support  238 . The outer case for the above components is numbered  230 . 
     In operation a skier cocks the spring release mechanism to the ski position shown in FIG. 25. A lever  240  (such as the tip of a ski pole) is used to push the central piston crank arm  301  forward in direction F. This is accomplished by pulling the lever  240  rearward in direction R against the fulcrum  241 . The fulcrum is shown as a simple piece of metal extending rearward from the main housing  232 . Now the traditional ski binding  221  functions in the traditional manner to release upon a forward force from the ski boot  220 . However, as shown in FIGS.  15 , 16  a signal  1508  (preferably a radio signal) is generated by a skier to demand the instant release of his bindings. The receiver  234  receives the signal  1508  and activates the solenoid  235  to extend the plunger  236 , thereby tripping the trigger  237 . When the trigger  237  is tripped, the stored energy of the main spring (FIG. 24,  290 ) forces the central piston (FIG. 24,  3000 ) to the release position as shown in FIG.  24 . The track  225  is pulled rearward in direction R, and the distance between the toe and heel pieces increases to distance D r . In prototype mode the difference between D r  and D s  is approximately one inch. 
     Referring next to FIGS.  18 , 19  the external appearance of the trigger  237  and its related functional parts is shown in plan view. The housing  232  forms a base for the fulcrum  241 . A slot  401  allows adjustment of the rearward positioning of the fulcrum  241  with bolts  400 . The solenoid is mounted inside the electronic housing  2350 , said housing counteracts the electronic force generated to move the plunger  236  rearward to trigger the trigger  237 . Bolts  2290  secure the shaft to the flange  228 . The trigger  237  controls the movement of a catch (also called a locking pin)  3000 . A base  3015  forms a pivot for the catch  3000  to pivot from. 
     Referring next to FIGS.  20 , 21 , 22 , 23  the solenoid and electronic components have been removed to better show the mechanical parts. The spring housing  232  has mounting holes  2600  on the bottom for attachment to a ski. A bolt  2507  secures the trigger housing  238  to the spring housing  232 . A bolt  2509  secures the catch base  3015  to the spring housing  232 . Pin  3086  is a forward stop for the trigger  237 . Pin  3005  is a pivot for the trigger  237 . Pin  3006  is a stop for spring  3007  which pushes the trigger  237  over the catch  3000  in the cocking operation. Pin  3002  is a stop for spring  3003  which pushes the catch  3000  into the groove  3012  which is located on the peripheral surface of central piston  300 . 
     The operation of the spring mechanism  230  is best seen in FIGS.  24 , 25 . The electronic parts have been removed. The technical challenge is to store enough energy in the spring  290  to violently pull the track  225  rearward on demand to release. The further challenge is to work with the limited power available with a light weight battery pack on board the ski. Too much added weight is not practical for downhill skis. The solution is a catch  3000  which has a locking corner  3011  which is forced into a locking engagement with a locking edge  3010  of the groove  3012  on the outside of the central piston  300 . The spring  3003  forces the catch downward in direction D when the spring is fully compressed. This locked and ready to ski mode is shown in FIG.  25 . The spring  3007  forces the trigger  237  to lock the catch down. 
     When the skier pushes his release button to send a (preferably radio) signal to the receiver  234 , the solenoid (or linear motor) is powered, thereby forcing plunger  236  against the trigger  237 . The trigger  237  has a pivot pin  3005 , and so the plunger  236  moves the locking bottom edge  3009  off the top of the sear, thereby allowing the spring  3003  to raise the catch around its pivot pin  3001 . As this occurs the locking surfaces  3010 , 3011  are released, and the spring  290  violently discharges its stored energy and pulls the track  225  rearward. This rearward force does overcome both the force of the weight of the skier as well as the force of any ice and debris that has collected on the ski. The release mode is shown in FIG.  24 . The cavity  3004  in the catch  3000  holds the spring  3003 . 
     Referring next to FIG. 26 the same system as FIG. 17 is shown. However, an optional sound module  1700  is mounted inside the outer case  230 . The same battery  233  that powers the solenoid  235  can power the sound module  1700  via wire  1702 . Known sound modules include chirper chips used in battery powered fire alarms. A skier who lost his ski in powder (worth perhaps $700.) can now press his ski pole handle button (FIG. 15,  1502 ) to make a chirping sound to help locate his ski. The on-board 9 volt battery could also power a mini speaker (not shown) to get more noise. 
     Referring next to FIG. 27 a prior art Dynastar® Autodrive™ ski  2700  is shown. The idea is to mount the binding onto a flexible plate  2702  in order to get better flex from the ski which now is not compressed by bolts from the binding heel. A flexible cushion layer  2703  supports the heel segment of the metal mounting plate  2702 . The toe segment of the binding is supported by a filler layer  2701 . As the ski arcs the heel segment of the metal mounting plate floats with support post  2704  moving in cavity  2705 . 
     FIG. 28 is the same as FIG. 17 except for the use of the ski  2700 . The metal mounting plate holds the entire binding and release assemblies. 
     Referring next to FIG. 29 a Salomon® Pilot™ system features an integrated ski and binding system. No longer are the binding toe member  2905  nor the binding heel member  2906  bolted directly onto the ski. Instead a toe mounting plate  2903  receives the binding toe member  2905 , and the heel mounting plate  2904  receives the binding heel member  2906 . A toe pivot axis  2901  secures the toe mounting plate  2903  to the ski  2900  via a hole in the ski body filled by a bolt around which the toe mounting plate can pivot. 
     A torsion bar  2907  connects the toe mounting plate  2903  to the heel mounting plate  2904 . The heel mounting plate  2904  pivots around a heel pivot axis  2902 . The same hole through the body of the ski construction is used as for the toe pivot axis  2901 . 
     Each of the binding members has an elongate base that is mechanically adjustable for positioning along a U shaped track to size the bindings to the boot. 
     In the preferred embodiment herein the heel mounting plate is modified to accommodate a spring type release assembly, similar to that shown in FIG. 17, wherein the binding heel member base  3000  is spring loaded into a release assembly  3001 . The U shaped track of the heel mounting plate is numbered  3002 . There is no longer a need for a separate track as shown in FIG. 17,  225 . The shaft  2290  from the release assembly  3001  is connected directly to the heel member base  3000 . For sizing the boot the shaft  2290  is selected for the desired length. Alternate boot adjustment means could include an adjustable mount for the release assembly  3001 . 
     Design choice could move all the electronics under the heel mounting plate. Cocking the main spring of the release mechanism can be done by placing the ski tip in the snow and pushing on the cocking handle  3004 . 
     A functionally equivalent release mechanism could be installed on the toe mounting plate, but the visual aesthetics of looking down at your emergency backwards release mechanism might not be appealing. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.