Insertion/extraction apparatus for circuit cards

A central office telecommunications apparatus, comprising:

• a card cage having a plurality of card guides and a plurality of channels;
• a plurality of circuit cards engaged with the card guides, each circuit card having a faceplate;
• and
• a pair of opposing ejectors coupled to each faceplate, wherein each ejector comprises:
• a base coupled to the faceplate;
• a handle pivotally coupled to the base, the handle having protrusions proximate a first end operable to engage one of the channels and to position the circuit card relative to the central office telecommunications apparatus;
• and
• a fastener disposed through an aperture in the handle, whereby the fastener is operable to fix the ejector in a closed position.

A method for manufacturing telecommunications equipment, comprising:

• providing a card cage having at least one card guide and at least one channel;
• providing at least one circuit card engaged with the card guide;
• and
• pivotally coupling at least one ejector to the circuit card, the ejector having protrusions proximate a first end operable to engage the channel, the ejector also having a fastener disposed through an aperture in the ejector such that pivoting of the ejector is substantially prevented when the fastener is coupled to the circuit card.

A system for distinguishing a plurality of circuit cards in a card cage, comprising:

• a card cage having first and second circuit cards;
• an ejector coupled to the each of the first and second circuit cards, each ejector comprising a base coupled to a faceplate of a respective circuit card and a handle having protrusions proximate a first end operable to engage a channel of the card cage, the handle also having a fastener disposed through an aperture in the handle such that pivoting of the handle is substantially prevented when the fastener is coupled to the circuit card;
• a first color applied to the ejector on the first circuit card;
• and
• a second color applied to the ejector on the second circuit card, wherein the first and second colors differ and distinguish the first circuit card function from the second circuit card function.

A central office telecommunications apparatus, comprising:

• a card cage having at least one card guide and at least one channel;
• at least one circuit card engaged with the card guide;
• and
• at least one ejector, comprising:
• a base coupled to a faceplate of the circuit card;
• and
• a handle pivotally coupled to the base, the handle having protrusions proximate a first end adapted to engage the channel, the handle also having a fastener disposed through an aperture in the handle such that pivoting of the handle is substantially prevented when the fastener is coupled to the base.