IP Library Granted Patent US 12,633,731
Granted Patent B2
US 12,633,731 · App. 18/475,050 · Granted May 19, 2026

Cable management in EV charger systems

Inventor: Dorothy Michael (Greenbrier, TN)
Assignee: SHOALS TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, LLC
H02G3/0437B60L53/31H02J3/38H02J2300/24
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,633,731
App. No.
18/475,050
Granted
May 19, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

In an example, a raceway joint may include a base wall, sidewalls, retention flanges, and a raceway separator. The sidewalls may be coupled to the base wall. The base wall and the sidewalls may at least partially define a raceway opening configured to receive raceways. The retention flanges may extend from the sidewalls. The retention flanges may be configured to interface with the raceways to prevent the raceway joint from moving along a direction that is substantially parallel to the sidewalls. The raceway separator may extend from the base wall into the raceway opening. The raceway separator may be configured to interface with the raceways to prevent the raceways from being inserted into the raceway opening beyond a point along a width of the base wall and to prevent the raceway joint from moving relative to the raceways.

Claims (39)

1 . A raceway joint comprising:

a base wall;

a plurality of sidewalls directly coupled to the base wall, wherein the base wall and the plurality of sidewalls at least partially define a raceway opening configured to receive a plurality of raceways;

a plurality of retention flanges, a different retention flange of the plurality of retention flanges extending from each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls, the plurality of retention flanges configured to interface with the plurality of raceways to prevent the raceway joint from moving along a direction that is substantially parallel to the plurality of sidewalls; and

a raceway separator extending from the base wall into the raceway opening, the raceway separator configured to interface with the plurality of raceways to prevent the plurality of raceways from being inserted into the raceway opening beyond a point along a width of the base wall and to prevent the raceway joint from moving relative to the plurality of raceways.

2 . The raceway joint of claim 1 , wherein the raceway separator extends along a portion of a length the base wall.

3 . The raceway joint of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of retention flanges extend from the plurality of sidewalls toward each other.

4 . The raceway joint of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of retention flanges extend along directions that are substantially parallel to the base wall.

5 . The raceway joint of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of retention flanges further extend toward the base wall.

6 . The raceway joint of claim 1 , wherein the raceway separator extends away from the base wall in a direction that is substantially normal to the base wall.

7 . The raceway joint of claim 1 , wherein the base wall is configured to cover a portion of a gap at least partially defined by the plurality of raceways.

8 . The raceway joint of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of sidewalls are coupled to the base wall to form a first plurality of joints;

the plurality of retention flanges are coupled to the plurality of sidewalls to form a second plurality of joints;

the plurality of retention flanges at least partially define a retention opening; and

one or more of the first plurality of joints, the second plurality of joints, the plurality of sidewalls are configured to resiliently deform to cause a length of the retention opening to increase and become greater than a width of the plurality of raceways to permit portions of the plurality of raceways to pass through the retention opening and the raceway opening to receive the plurality of raceways.

9 . The raceway joint of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sidewalls further define the raceway opening.

10 . The raceway joint of claim 1 , wherein a width and a height of the raceway joint is greater than a width and a height of the plurality of raceways so that ends of the plurality of raceways are surrounded by the raceway joint.

11 . A cable management system (CMS) comprising:

a first raceway partially defining a channel configured to receive a cable;

a second raceway configured to be installed proximate the first raceway such that a gap forms between the first raceway and the second raceway and to further define the channel configured to receive the cable; and

a raceway joint comprising:

a base wall configured to cover at least a portion of the gap to further define the channel configured to receive the cable;

a plurality of sidewalls coupled to the base wall, wherein the base wall and the plurality of sidewalls at least partially define a raceway opening configured to receive the first raceway and the second raceway;

a plurality of retention flanges extending from the plurality of sidewalls, the plurality of retention flanges configured to mate with a bottom surface of the first raceway and a bottom surface of the second raceway to prevent the raceway joint from moving along a direction that is substantially parallel to the plurality of sidewalls; and

a raceway separator extending from the base wall into the raceway opening, the raceway separator configured to interface with the first raceway and the second raceway to prevent the first raceway and the second raceway from being inserted into the raceway opening beyond a point along a width of the base wall and to prevent the raceway joint from moving relative to the first raceway and the second raceway.

12 . The CMS of claim 11 , wherein the raceway joint is configured to interface with the first raceway and the second raceway to prevent the raceway joint from being removed from the CMS when installed.

13 . The CMS of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of retention flanges extend from the plurality of sidewalls toward each other in directions that are substantially parallel to the base wall.

14 . The CMS of claim 11 , wherein the raceway separator extends away from the base wall in a direction that is substantially normal to the base wall.

15 . The CMS of claim 11 , wherein:

the plurality of sidewalls are coupled to the base wall to form a first plurality of joints;

the plurality of retention flanges are coupled to the plurality of sidewalls to form a second plurality of joints;

the plurality of retention flanges at least partially define a retention opening; and

one or more of the first plurality of joints, the second plurality of joints, the plurality of sidewalls are configured to resiliently deform to cause a length of the retention opening to increase and become greater than a width of the first raceway and the second raceway to permit portions of the first raceway and the second raceway to pass through the retention opening and the raceway opening to receive the first raceway and the second raceway.

16 . The CMS of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of sidewalls further define the raceway opening.

17 . The CMS of claim 11 , wherein a width and a height of the raceway joint is greater than a width and a height of the first raceway and the second raceway so that ends of the first raceway and the second raceway are surrounded by the raceway joint.

18 . The CMS of claim 11 , wherein the first raceway, the second raceway, and the raceway joint are configured to permit the CMS to be installed above-ground and to function as an above-ground wiring run.

19 . The CMS of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of sidewalls further define the channel to receive the cable and extend across and cover a portion of the gap.

20 . The CMS of claim 11 , wherein a distance between the plurality of sidewalls corresponds to a width of the first raceway and the second raceway.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 11, 2026
From: SHOALS TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 074929/0746 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 2, 2023
From: MICHAEL, DOROTHY
To: SHOALS TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, LLC
Reel/Frame 065437/0978 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation In Part 18301096 · Apr 14, 2023
Continuation In Part 18295830 · Apr 4, 2023
Provisional Application 63377176 · Sep 26, 2022
Provisional Application 63362737 · Apr 8, 2022
Related Publication 20240014641A1 · Jan 11, 2024
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