IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,627,131
Granted Patent B2
US 12,627,131 · App. 17/870,464 · Granted May 12, 2026

Cable inlet pass-through strain relief guide

Inventors: Matthew Bryan Hitchcock (Middletown, PA); Nathan Philip Myer (Middletown, PA); Ram Kishore Venkatesan (Winston Salem, NC); Troy Agner (Winston Salem, NC); Subodh Patil (Winston Salem, NC); Barakissa Gakou (Winston Salem, NC); Andrew Jacob Vasbinder (Middletown, PA)
Assignee: TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH
H02G15/013B60L53/16H01B17/30H02G15/007
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,627,131
App. No.
17/870,464
Granted
May 12, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wire guide assembly includes a seal cover having a cover opening defined therethrough and a fixation element. A seal is fitted to the seal cover and defines a seal opening aligned with the cover opening in an axial direction of the assembly. A strain relief guide of the assembly is fitted to a side of the seal opposite the seal cover and defines a guide opening aligned with the seal opening and the cover opening in the axial direction.

Claims (40)

1 . A wire guide assembly, comprising:

a monolithic seal cover, including:

at least one cover wire opening defined therethrough and sized to receive at least one wire; and

a plurality of retaining protrusions extending in the axial direction;

a strain relief guide defining at least one guide wire opening aligned with the at least one cover opening in an axial direction of the assembly and sized to receive the at least one wire; and

a seal arranged between and separating the seal cover and the strain relief guide and defining at least one seal wire opening therethrough and a plurality of retaining openings, the at least one seal wire opening aligned with the at least one cover opening and at least one guide opening in the axial direction and sized to form a seal with the at least one wire inserted therethrough, the plurality of retaining openings receiving the retaining protrusions and fixing the seal to the seal cover, the seal cover defines a first face, the retaining protrusions extending from the first face in the axial direction and toward the strain relief guide, a first axially facing side of the seal opposingly abuts the first face of the seal cover and a second axially facing side of the seal opposite the first axially facing side of the seal opposingly abuts the strain relief guide.

2 . The wire guide assembly of claim 1 , wherein the strain relief guide includes a plurality of retaining protrusions received within the plurality of retaining openings of the seal and fixing the strain relief guide to the seal.

3 . The wire guide assembly of claim 1 , wherein the strain relief guide includes an alignment protrusion extending from an end thereof opposite the seal.

4 . The wire guide assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one seal wire opening comprises a diameter varying along the axial direction.

5 . The wire guide assembly of claim 4 , wherein the at least one seal wire opening defines a plurality of internal sealing ribs, each rib sized to form a seal with an outer insulation of a wire passing therethrough.

6 . The wire guide assembly of claim 5 , wherein the seal cover includes at least one guide post coaxially aligned with the at least one cover wire opening and extending into the at least one seal wire opening.

7 . The wire guide assembly of claim 6 , wherein the at least one guide post engages with a portion of the plurality of internal sealing ribs of a corresponding seal wire opening, the at least one guide post adapted to receive the at least one wire therethrough.

8 . The wire guide assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises a ribbed circumferential exterior sealing surface.

9 . The wire guide assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one seal wire opening is closed in the axial direction via flashing.

10 . The wire guide assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seal cover includes a latch adapted to engage with a corresponding catch of an electronics device housing.

11 . An electrical assembly, comprising:

an electrical device having a body defining a wire opening;

a wire guide assembly at least partially insertable into the wire opening of the electrical device and including:

a cover selectively fixable to the body over the wire opening, and defining a wire opening sized to receive a wire;

a guide arranged in the wire opening of the electrical device and having a wire opening a sized to receive the wire; and

a seal arranged in the wire opening of the electrical device and positioned between and completely separating the cover and the guide, and defining a wire opening sized to receive the wire, the cover defines a first face, a first axially facing side of the seal opposingly abuts the first face of the cover and a second axially facing side of the seal opposite the first axially facing side of the seal opposingly abuts the guide.

12 . The electrical assembly of claim 11 , wherein the cover and the guide are fixedly attached to the seal.

13 . The electrical assembly of claim 11 , wherein the wire opening of the seal defines a plurality of internal sealing ribs each sized to form a seal with an outer insulation of the wire passing therethrough.

14 . The electrical assembly of claim 11 , wherein the seal cover includes a hollow guide post coaxially aligned with the wire opening of the cover and extending into the wire opening of the seal.

15 . A charging inlet for an electric vehicle, comprising:

a body for housing at least one conductive terminal, the body including at least one inlet opening;

a wire inserted through the inlet opening of the body; and

a wire guide assembly receiving the wire and inserted through the inlet opening of the body, including:

a seal cover removably attached to the at least one inlet opening and including a cover wire opening defined therethrough and receiving the wire;

a strain relief guide defining a guide wire opening aligned with the cover opening and receiving the wire; and

a seal arranged between and completely separating the seal cover and the strain relief guide and defining at a seal wire opening aligned with the cover opening and the guide opening in the axial direction, the seal opening receiving the wire and forming a seal therewith, the seal cover defines a first face, a first axially facing side of the seal opposingly abuts the first face of the seal cover and a second axially facing side of the seal opposite the first axially facing side of the seal opposingly abuts the strain relief guide.

16 . The charging inlet of claim 15 , wherein the seal wire opening defines a plurality of internal sealing ribs, each rib sized to form a seal with an outer insulation of the wire passing therethrough.

17 . The charging inlet of claim 15 , wherein the strain relief guide includes an alignment protrusion extending from an end thereof opposite the seal and engaging with the body for fixing the axial position of the wire guide assembly.

18 . The charging inlet of claim 15 , wherein the cover defines a hollow post extending from the cover opening in a direction of the seal, the post extending partially through the seal with the seal fitted to the cover.

19 . A wire guide assembly, comprising:

a monolithic seal cover, including:

at least one cover wire opening defined therethrough and sized to receive at least one wire; and

at least one guide post coaxially aligned with the at least one cover wire opening and adapted to receive the at least one wire;

a strain relief guide defining at least one guide wire opening aligned with the at least one cover opening in an axial direction of the assembly and sized to receive the at least one wire; and

a seal arranged between and separating the seal cover and the strain relief guide and defining at least one seal wire opening therethrough, the at least one seal wire opening aligned with the at least one cover opening and at least one guide opening in the axial direction and sized to form a seal with the at least one wire inserted therethrough, the at least one guide post extending into and engaging with the at least one seal wire opening, the seal cover defines a first face, the at least one guide post extending from the first face in the axial direction and toward the strain relief guide, a first axially facing side of the seal opposingly abuts the first face of the seal cover and a second axially facing side of the seal opposite the first axially facing side of the seal opposingly abuts the strain relief guide.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE FIFTH INVENTORS NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 060585 FRAME: 0808. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT . Recorded Aug 12, 2022
From: HITCHCOCK, MATTHEW BRYAN; MYER, NATHAN PHILIP; VENKATESAN, RAM KISHORE; AGNER, TROY; PATIL, SUBODH; GAKOU, BARAKISSA; VASBINDER, ANDREW JACOB
To: TE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS GMBH
Reel/Frame 061159/0978 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 21, 2022
From: HITCHCOCK, MATTHEW BRYAN; MYER, NATHAN PHILIP; VENKATESAN, RAM KISHORE; AGNER, TROY; SUBODH, PATIL; GAKOU, BARAKISSA; VASBINDER, ANDREW JACOB
To: TE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS GMBH
Reel/Frame 060585/0808 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240030694A1 · Jan 25, 2024
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