Abstract: Disposer systems having antimicrobial lighting, lens assemblies for use in disposer systems, and methods of installing antimicrobial lighting into disposer systems are provided. The lens assemblies include a lens that forms an inner wall of the lens assembly and faces into an interior area of the disposer system, at least one LED board including at least one LED that emits violet light. Lens assemblies may be secured to at least one of a waste disposer, a sink flange or a mounting gasket of the waste disposer system.

Abstract: Food waste disposer systems and related systems for coupling food waste disposer systems to electrical power sources, and related coupling and configuration methods, are disclosed herein. In at least one example embodiment, a food waste disposer system includes a motor, a switch module, a housing, and an appliance inlet power cord connection structure supported at least indirectly upon the housing, where the connection structure is either connected to or integrally formed with the switch module. Further, the food waste disposer system also includes a power cord including a first end with a first plug and a second end with a second plug, where the first plug is configured to be coupled to the connection structure. Additionally, the food waste disposer includes an adapter or first lead wires that are coupled at least indirectly to the connection structure.

Abstract: Modular shredding rings for implementation in waste disposers, such as food waste disposers, as well as waste disposers employing such modular shredder rings and related methods of operating and assembling, are disclosed herein. In an example embodiment, a food waste disposer includes a food conveying section, a motor section, and a grinding section that are all supported by or formed within a housing. The grinding section includes a rotating plate and a modular shredder ring, the modular shredder ring including an annular support structure and a plurality of shredder modules mounted upon or coupled to the annular support structure. Additionally, the respective shredder modules are respectively positioned along respective different portions of a radially-inwardly-facing annular surface of the annular support structure. Further, each of the respective shredder modules includes one or more respective first contacting formations that at least partly define one or more respective first spaces.

Abstract: Sound dampening swiveling lugs for food waste disposers, food waste disposers having sound dampening swiveling lugs, and methods of making food waste disposers having sound dampening swiveling lugs are provided. Sound dampening swiveling lugs may include a lug portion, a fastening post, and a sound dampening material on a contact surface between the fastening post and the lug portion. Food waste disposers include a grinding section with a rotating shedder plate that includes at least one sound dampening swiveling lug. Methods of making a food waste disposer include attaching a sound dampening material to a contact surface between the fastening post and the lug portion of a sound dampening swiveling lug.

Abstract: A plug for a dishwasher inlet of a food waste disposer is provided herein. The plug includes an exterior surface having first and second barrier wall portions that together at least partly define a curving indentation that extends both substantially axially and also extends circumferentially substantially ninety degrees. When the plug is supported within the inlet in a fully installed position in which the first protrusion extends into the indentation so as to be in contact with or proximate to an end of the indentation, then the plug is retained axially relative to the inlet.

Abstract: Food waste disposers, particularly food waste disposers for installation under a sink, can include a mounting assembly that has a baffle. Each baffle of the present technology can include an outer rim, a plurality of flaps that are attached to the outer rim by a hinge and extend radially inwardly from the outer rim. Each flap can have an anti-reverse stopper that is intended to resist upward movement of the flap during operation, to prevent food waste from backing-up out of the disposer into the sink.

Abstract: Waste disposers, such as food waste disposers, combination systems including such waste disposers, and related methods, are disclosed herein. In one example embodiment, a food waste disposer includes a dishwasher inlet having an inner wall that defines a channel and includes a first protrusion that extends radially inwardly toward a first central axis. Additionally, the food waste disposer includes a plug that includes an exterior surface having first and second barrier wall portions that together at least partly define a curving indentation that extends both substantially axially and also extends circumferentially substantially ninety degrees. The inlet and plug are configured so that, when the plug is supported within the inlet in a fully installed position in which the first protrusion extends into the indentation so as to be in contact with or proximate to an end of the indentation, then the plug is retained axially relative to the inlet.

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 food waste disposer includes a rim portion, a plurality of flaps, and a plurality of living hinges, wherein 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 or to return to the respective closed positions when not at the respective closed positions.

Abstract: Point-of-use water heating systems, systems including such heating systems, and methods of operating such systems are disclosed herein. In an example embodiment, a point-of-use water heating system includes a thermostatic mixing valve and a hot water tank configured to heat a portion of input water received from the mixing valve to become heated water having an elevated temperature. The heating system includes an actuatable valve and a buffering chamber having an outlet configured to provide, at least indirectly, output water having an output temperature less than the elevated temperature. The mixing valve is configured to output mixed water, and buffering chamber is configured to retain a residual portion of the mixed water when the actuatable valve is switched to a closed status. When the actuatable valve is subsequently switched to an open status, an amount of water communicated from the mixing valve undergoes a mixing with the residual portion.

Abstract: Baffles for disposer systems, as well as disposer systems employing such baffles and methods of implementing and operating such baffles and disposer systems. In at least one example embodiment, a baffle includes a cylindrical rim and a plurality of pleats that are attached to, or integrally formed with, the cylindrical rim. A first face of the baffle includes a first structural characteristic and a second face includes a second structural characteristic. The first and second structural characteristics are of a same type but also are different, whereby due at least in part to the first and second structural characteristics being different from one another, the baffle is capable of being implemented within the disposer system in either of first and second orientations, respectively, so that the disposer system is configured to operate to achieve either of first and second functional objectives, respectively.

Abstract: Mounting systems for waste disposers such as food waste disposers, waste disposers employing such systems, and related methods are disclosed herein. In one example embodiment, a mounting system includes a tubular structure extending between first and second ends, and an enclosure structure configured to be able to support, at least indirectly, the waste disposer. Further, the mounting system includes an elastomeric member coupled to each of the tubular structure, the enclosure structure, and the waste disposer. Additionally, the mounting system includes one or more backup support features that is or are configured to enable the enclosure structure and the waste disposer to be supported relative to the tubular structure when the elastomeric member is unable unilaterally to provide a desired support level of the enclosure structure and the waste disposer relative to the tubular structure.

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 disposal assembly includes a motor coupled to operate a grinding mechanism of a food waste disposer. A first switch is coupled to selectively inhibit the supply of power from a power source to a main winding of the motor, and a second switch is coupled to selectively inhibit the supply of power from the power source to a start winding of the motor. A control circuit is configured to close the first and second switches during an initial startup time period, detect a voltage of at least one of the windings, and open the second switch in response to detection of the voltage above a start voltage threshold value. The control circuit is also configured to subsequent to opening the second switch, close the second switch in response to detection of the voltage below a low voltage threshold value indicative of an excess load condition of the motor.

Abstract: Sink assemblies and food waste disposers for installation under a sink, can include a baffle configured to be located in the sink drain. Such baffles of the present technology can include a first baffle above a second baffle. The first baffle layer can include a plurality of upper flaps and a plurality of gaps between the upper flaps. The plurality of upper flaps can be attached to the outer rim and spaced apart from each other such that one of the gaps is located between each set of two upper flaps. The second baffle layer can include a plurality of lower flaps, and the plurality of lower flaps can be circumferentially offset compared to the plurality of upper flaps such that a portion of each lower flap is directly beneath at least one of the gaps of the plurality of gaps between the upper flaps.