Abstract: A poke-in terminal includes a main body, a tab terminal socket at a mating end, and a wire socket at a terminating end. The tab terminal socket includes walls forming a tab terminal receptacle configured to receive a tab terminal. Upper and lower beam contacts extend into the tab terminal receptacle to interface with the tab terminal. The wire socket includes walls forming a wire receptacle configured to receive a wire. Poke-in retention beams extend into the wire receptacle to interface with the wire when poked into the wire socket. The wire socket includes a wire release element configured to be actuated to release the poke-in retention beams from the wire.

Abstract: A control unit for a food waste disposer has a controller that determines operational status of the food waste disposer based on motor loading of an induction motor of the food waste disposer.

Abstract: Baffles for food waste disposers, systems employing such baffles, and methods of assembling, manufacturing, fabricating, or operating such baffles or baffle systems are disclosed herein. In one example embodiment, a baffle for implementation in connection with a waste disposer includes a rim portion, a plurality of flaps, and a plurality of living hinges, where the rim portion, living hinges, and flaps constitute a single integrally-formed structure. The respective living hinges permit the respective flaps to be rotatable about respective axes that respectively are substantially tangent to respective locations along or proximate to the rim portion, so that the respective flaps can be rotated to respective closed positions. Either the living hinges or at least one additional component tend to cause the respective flaps to remain at the respective closed positions when already at those respective positions, or to return to those respective positions when not at those respective positions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an operational status of a waste disposer are disclosed herein. In one example embodiment, a waste disposer assembly includes a waste disposer, a sprayer mechanism, and a switching system. The waste disposer is configured to be supported in relation to a sink. The sprayer mechanism is configured to be supportable in relation to the sink, is coupled at least indirectly to the sink by way of an extendable and retractable linkage, and includes an actuator mechanism that, upon being actuated, causes generation of a control signal. The switching system is supported in relation to the sink, is coupled at least indirectly to each of the sprayer mechanism and disposer, and is configured to operate so that, upon receiving the control signal from the actuator mechanism, a related signal is provided to the disposer causing the disposer to change or take on operational status.