Waste disposer system having mounting gasket with chamfer

Abstract

Mounting gaskets for use in food waste disposers, and food waste disposers having mounting gaskets, are provided. The mounting gaskets include a top edge, a bottom edge, a top edge, an inner edge that extends inwardly from the top edge, and an outer sidewall that extends from the bottom edge to the top edge. The outer sidewall includes a lower outer edge and an upper outer edge, wherein the upper outer edge extends along at least about one third of a height of the of the outer sidewall. The upper outer edge is chamfered such that the upper outer edge extends inwardly at an angle from the lower outer edge to the top edge.

Description

WASTE DISPOSER SYSTEM HAVING MOUNTING GASKET WITH CHAMFERFIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY

[0001] The present technology relates to waste disposers, and specifically to mounting gaskets used in waste disposers and waste disposers having mounting gaskets.BACKGROUND

[0002] Food waste disposers are used to comminute food scraps into particles small enough to pass through household drain plumbing. Referring to Figures 1 and 2 (Prior Art), a conventional food waste disposer 10 is often mounted to a sink, such as a kitchen sink (126 in Figure 2).

[0003] Figure 1 (Prior Art) is an exploded view of one example of a food waste disposer system 124. As shown in Figure 1, a food waste disposer 10 may include a food conveying section 12, a motor section 14, and a grinding section 16 disposed between the food conveying section 12 and the motor section 14. The food conveying section 12 includes a housing 18 that forms an inlet for receiving food waste and water. The food conveying section 12 conveys the food waste to the grinding section 16, and the motor section 14 includes a motor imparting rotational movement to a motor shaft to operate the grinding section.

[0004] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the food waste disposer 10 is installed to a sink 126 (Figure 2) in a two-step procedure using a mounting assembly 100. First, a sink flange assembly 102, which includes a sink (or strainer) flange 104, a sink gasket 106, a back-up flange 108, an upper mounting flange 110, bolts 112, and a retaining ring 114 are installed or mounted in relation to the sink 126. Second, a disposer assembly 30 including the food waste disposer 10 and also including a mounting (or sealing) gasket 1 16 and a lower mounting flange 118 are attached to the sink flange assembly 102. The combination of the disposer assembly 30 and the mounting assembly 100 can be considered to constitute an overall food waste disposer system 124.

[0005] More particularly with respect to the attachment of the disposer assembly 30 to the sink flange assembly 102, in at least some known examples, the lower mounting flange 118 is placed around the housing 18 that forms the inlet of the food conveying section 12. The mounting gasket 116 is then placed around that inlet as well, above the lower mounting flange 118, in a manner tending to secure the mounting gasket 116 to the inlet, by virtue of a lip at the inlet of the housing 18. Attachment of the disposer assembly 30 including the food waste disposer 10 to the sink flange assembly 102 and thereby to the sink is then particularly achieved by engaging mounting tabs 120 of the lower mounting flange 118 with ramps (or inclined mounting fasteners or edges or ridges) 122 of the upper mounting flange 110 and then rotating the lower mounting flange 118 relative to the upper mounting flange 110 until secure. When the lower mounting flange 118 and upper mounting flange 110 are secured together, the mounting gasket 116 is compressed therebetween.

[0006] In Figure 2, the food waste disposer system 124 is shown installed or mounted in relation to a sink 126. Although Figure 2 shows a side elevation view of the food waste disposer system 124, Figure 2 provides a cutaway cross-sectional view of the sink 126, so as to better illustrate how the food waste disposer system 124 is installed relative to the sink 126. As shown in Figure 2, the food waste disposer system 124 particularly includes the disposer assembly 30 that includes the food waste disposer 10 and the mounting assembly (or sink flange assembly) 100 that allows for the disposer system 124 to be attached to the sink 126.

[0007] Although some types of mounting gaskets are known, it would be desirable to provide improved mounting gaskets. Improved mounting gaskets may provide one or more benefits or advantages over previously known mounting gaskets, such as reducing manufacturing costs and / or improving one or more performance characteristics.SUMMARY

[0008] Mounting gaskets for use in waste disposers, and waste disposers including mounting gaskets, are provided herein.

[0009] In one aspect, a mounting gasket is provided that includes a top edge, an inner edge that extends inwardly from the top edge, a bottom edge, and an outer sidewall. The outer sidewall extends from the bottom edge to the top edge. The outer sidewall has a lower outer edge and an upper outer edge, wherein the upper outer edge extends along at least about one third of a height of the of the outer sidewall, and the upper outer edge is chamfered such that the upper outer edge extends inwardly at an angle from the lower outer edge to the top edge.

[0010] In at least another aspect, food waste disposer system is provided that includes a sink flange assembly, and a disposer assembly. The sink flange assembly includes a sink flange and an upper mounting flange. The sink flange assembly connects to the disposer assembly, the disposer assembly includes a food waste disposer, a mounting gasket, and a lower mounting flange that has a foot. The food waste disposer includes food conveying section having a housing that forms an inlet, the inlet having an upper flange. The sink flange includes a lower end. The mounting gasket contacts the lower end of the sink flange and the inlet of the housing of the food conveying section. The mounting gasket includes a top edge, an inner edge that extends inwardly from the top edge, a bottom edge, and an outer sidewall. The outer sidewall extends from the bottom edge to the top edge. The outer sidewall has a lower outer edge and an upper outer edge, wherein the upper outer edge extends along at least about one third of a height of the of the outer sidewall, and the upper outer edge is chamfered such that the upper outer edge extends inwardly at an angle from the lower outer edge to the top edge.

[0011] Any of the foregoing examples of mounting gaskets and / or waste disposer systems may include additional features and characteristics. For example, the mounting gasket may also include an inlet receiver formed on an internal side of the outer rim under the inner edge, the inlet receiver bring configured to receive an inlet of a housing of a food conveying section of a food waste disposer. The bottom edge may include a step that is configured to receive a foot of a lower mounting flange. The upper outer edge of the outer sidewall may extend from at least about one third of the height of the of the outer sidewall to at least about one half of the height of the of the outer sidewall. The angle from which the upper outer edge extends from the lower outer edgemay be at least about 60°. In some examples, the angle from which the upper outer edge extends from the lower outer edge may be from about 15° to about 40°. The mounting gasket may be made of a material that comprises nitrile rubber or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). The outer sidewall may include at least one indentation that extends along a portion of the lower outer edge 406 and along a portion of the upper outer edge.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Specific examples have been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and are shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification.

[0013] Figure I is an exploded view of one example of a prior art food waste disposer system.

[0014] Figure 2 illustrates a cutaway cross-sectional view of a sink and a side elevation view of the food waste disposer system of Figure 1 installed in relation to the sink.

[0015] Figure 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an upper portion of a waste disposer system of the present technology, including a mounting gasket of the present technology.

[0016] Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a mounting gasket of the present technology.

[0017] Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of a second embodiment of a mounting gasket of the present technology.

[0018] Figure 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a prior art mounting gasket.

[0019] Figure 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of mounting gasket of Figure5.

[0020] Figure 8 illustrates an overlap comparison of the cross-sections of the outer rims of the mounting gaskets of Figures 6 and 7.

[0021] While various embodiments discussed herein are amenable to modifications and alternative forms, aspects thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments described, and instead is meant to include all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure. In addition, the terms “example” and “embodiment” as used throughout this application is only by way of illustration, and not limitation, the Figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, and the use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items unless otherwise noted.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Waste disposer, particularly food waste disposers, are often installed underneath sinks, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 (Prior Art). Waste disposer assemblies of the present technology’ may include components that are the same or similar to the components described with respect to food waste disposer system 124 of Figures 1 and 2. However, food waste disposers of the present technology include a mounting gasket of the present technology' that differs from previously know n mounting gaskets.

[0023] Figure 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of a waste disposer system 200 of the present technology that includes a mounting gasket 300 of the present technology. The waste disposer system 200 includes a disposer assembly 202 and a sink flange assembly 204. The disposer assembly 202 connects to the sink flange assembly 204. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate embodiments of mounting gaskets of the present technology7. Figure 4 illustrates a first embodiment of a mounting gasket 400 of the present technology, and Figure 5 illustrates a second embodiment of a mounting gasket 500 of the present technology. As shown in Figure 5, the second mounting gasket 500 also includes a baffle 502. Either of the mounting gaskets shown in Figures 4 and 5 may be used as a mounting gasket 300 as shown and described with respect to Figure 3.

[0024] Directional terms used herein such as “top”, “bottom”, “up”, “down”, “upward”, “downward”, “upper”, and “low er”, are references to examples in which the waste disposer system 200, mounting gasket 300, mounting gasket 400. or mountinggasket 500 is vertically oriented as shown in each of Figure 3-5, w ith up being towards the top of the drawing sheet and down being towards the bottom of the drawing sheet. The waste disposer system 200. mounting gasket 300 / 400 / 500, and sink flange assembly 204 may all be cylindrical, or generally cylindrical, and may have a central vertical axis A that extends through the center of each of the waste disposer system 200, mounting gasket 300, and sink flange assembly 204. Directional terms used herein such as "inner", "‘outer’, “inward”, “outward”, “inwardly” and “outwardly”, are references to examples in which the waste disposer system 200, mounting gasket 300, mounting gasket 400, or mounting gasket 500 is vertically oriented as show n in each of Figure 3-5, with inward being towards the central axis A, and outw ard being away from the central axis A towards the left or right edge of the drawing sheet. The term “configured to” as used herein with respect to a component being "configured to” have certain structural characteristics in specified circumstances or to perform a function means that the component is structurally formed such that the component meets the structural characteristics in the specified circumstances or performs the function without further modification. The term “about” as used herein with reference to any measurement or physical characteristic means approximately, and includes the stated measurement or physical characteristic plus or minus an amount that is within an acceptable margin of error or other amount of variance that maintains the desired functionality.

[0025] Referring to Figure 3. the disposer assembly 202 includes at least a food waste disposer 206, the mounting gasket 300. and a lower mounting flange 208. The disposer 206 includes a food conveying section 210. The food conveying section 210 includes a housing 212 that forms an inlet 214 for receiving food waste and w ater. The inlet 214 may include an upper flange 228. The disposer 206 may also include one or more other components, such as those discussed with respect to disposer assembly 30 discussed above with respect to Figures 1 and 2, such as a motor section 14, and a grinding section 16 disposed between the food conveying section 210 and the motor section.

[0026] The sink flange assembly 204 includes at least a sink flange 216 and an upper mounting flange 218. The sink flange assembly 204 may also include one ormore other components, such as those discussed wi th respect to sink flange assembly 102 discussed above with respect to Figures 1 and 2, such as a retaining ring 220. The sink flange 216 may include a lower portion 222 that may include a retaining ring groove 224 and a lower end 226 that extends inwardly and is configured to contact the mounting gasket 300 when installed. The retaining ring 220 may be retained within the retaining ring groove 224, around an outer perimeter of the retaining ring groove 224.

[0027] The mounting gasket 300 includes an outer rim 302. The outer rim 302 extends circumferentially about a central axis A. The outer rim 302 includes an outer sidewall 304 that has a lower outer edge 306, an upper outer edge 308. The outer rim 302 may also include atop edge 310, and an inner edge 312. When installed, the inner edge 312 of the outer rim 302 of the mounting gasket 300 contacts, and is contacted by, the lower end 226 of the sink flange 216. The upper outer edge 308 of the outer sidewall 304 is chamfered, such that the upper outer edge 308 of the outer sidewall 304 extends inwardly at an angle from the lower outer edge 306 to the top edge 310. The top edge 310 may be horizontal, or substantially horizontal. As shown in Figures 3 and 5, in at least some examples, a mounting gasket 300 of the present technology may also include a baffle 314.

[0028] The mounting gasket 300 may also include internal side 316 of the outer rim 302. An inlet receiver 322 may be formed on the internal side 316, under the inner edge 312. The inlet receiver 322 may be configured to receive, and may receive when installed, the upper flange 228 of the inlet 214 of the housing 212 of the food conveying section 210 of the food waste disposer 206.

[0029] The mounting gasket 300 may also include a bottom edge 318. The bottom edge 318 may include a step 320. The lower mounting flange 208 may have a foot 230. and the step 320 may receive, and be configured to receive, the foot 230 of the lower mounting flange 208.

[0030] Additional features of mounting gaskets of the present technology are shown in Figures 4 and 5.

[0031] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the outer rim 402 of the mounting gasket 400 / 500 includes an outer sidewall 404 that has a lower outer edge 406, an upper outeredge 408. The outer rim 402 may also include a top edge 410, and an inner edge 412, and abottom edge 414. The top edge 410 may be horizontal, or substantially horizontal. The inner edge 412 extends inwardly from the top edge 410. The inner edge 412 may be curved, and may curve downwardly and inwardly from the top edge 410. The inner edge 412 may be configured to contact the lower end 226 of the of the sink flange 216 when the mounting gasket 400 / 500 is installed. For example, when the mounting gasket 400 / 500 is used as a mounting gasket 300 and installed as shown in Figure 3. the inner edge 412 of the outer rim 402 of the mounting gasket 400 contacts, and is contacted by, the lower end 226 of the sink flange 216. The outer sidewall 404 may extend from the bottom edge 414 to the top edge 410. The lower outer edge 406 of the outer sidewall 404 may extend vertically upwards from the bottom edge 414. The upper outer edge 408 of the outer sidewall 404 is chamfered, such that the upper outer edge 408 of the outer sidewall 404 extends inwardly at an angle from the lower outer edge 406 to the top edge 410.

[0032] The outer sidewall 404 has an outer diameter D, and a height H that extends from the bottom edge 414 to the top edge 410. The upper outer edge 408 of the outer sidewall 404 extends along at least about one third of the height H of the outer sidewall. The upper outer edge 408 of the outer sidewall 404 may extend from about at least one third of the height H of the of the outer sidewall 404 to at least about one half of the height H of the of the outer sidewall 404.

[0033] The outer sidewall 404 may include at least one indentation 416, and may include a plurality of indentation 416. Each indentation 416 may extend along a portion of the lower outer edge 406 and along a portion of the upper outer edge 408. Each indentation 416 may have any suitable shape, such as being rectangular or substantially rectangular as shown in Figures 4 and 5. Each indentation 416 may7have any suitable width. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the indentations 416 on mounting gasket 400 have a first width Wi and the indentations 416 on mounting gasket 500 have a second width W2 that is wider than the first width Wi.

[0034] The mounting gasket 400 / 500 may also include internal side 418 of the outer rim 402 (shown in Figure 4). An inlet receiver 420 may be formed on the internal side 418, under the inner edge 412. The inlet receiver 420 may be configured to receive,and may receive when installed, the upper flange of the inlet of the housing of the food conveying section of a food waste disposer. For example, referring to Figures 3-5, when the mounting gasket 400 / 500 is used as a mounting gasket 300. the inlet receiver 420 may be configured to receive, and may receive when installed, the upper flange 228 of the inlet 214 of the housing 212 of the food conveying section 210 of the food waste disposer 206.

[0035] Mounting gaskets of the present technology, such as first mounting gasket 400 and second mounting gasket 500, may be made using any suitable material, and in at least some examples the mounting gasket may be made of a material that comprises, in whole or in part, nitrile rubber or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

[0036] Figures 6-8 show comparisons of the mounting gasket 500 of the present technology^ made of TPE in relation to a prior art mounting gasket 600 made of rubber. Figures 6 and 7 show' a side-by-side comparison of the prior art mounting gasket 600 and the mounting gasket 500 of the present technology. Figure 8 shows an overlapping view of the mounting gasket 600 and the mounting gasket 500.

[0037] As shown in Figure 6, the prior art mounting gasket 600 has an outer diameter Di, a step length Si, and a chamfer height Ci. The outer diameter is the diameter of the mounting gasket as measured with respect to the outermost points of the outer rim of the mounting gasket. The chamfer height of the upper outer edge, and is the portion of the height of the of the outer side wall along which the upper outer edge extends. As shown in Figure 7, the mounting gasket 500 has an outer diameter D2, a step length S2, and a chamfer height C2. As shown in Figure 8, the outer diameter D2 and step length S2 of the mounting gasket 500 are reduced as compared to the outer diameter Di and step length Si of the prior art mounting gasket 600. The chamfer height C2 of the mounting gasket 500 is significantly greater that the chamfer height of the prior art mounting gasket 600.

[0038] Also as shown in Figure 8, the upper outer edge 408 of the outer sidewall 404 is chamfered, such that the upper outer edge 408 of the outer sidewall 404 extends inwardly at an angle ([> from the low er outer edge 406 to the top edge 410. The chamfer height C2 as shown is at least about one third of the height H of the of the outer sidewall404, and may be up to at least about one half of the height H of the of the outer sidewall 404. The chamfer angle 4>, as measured from a vertical line parallel to the central vertical axis A and extending up from the lower outer edge 406 of the outer sidewall 404, may be any suitable angle, such as less than 90°, less than 45°, or at least about 30°. In some examples, the angle 4> may be from about to about 15° to about 40°, including for example about 20°, about 22°, about 23°, about 23.2°, and about 25°. From a different perspective, the angle of the chamfer as measured from a horizontal line perpendicular to the central vertical axis A may be greater than about 45°, such as from about 50° to about 70°, including from about 60° to about 70°.

[0039] Mounting gaskets of the present technology preferably have a compression force that is suitable to prevent leaking. The compression force is the amount of force required to compress the mounting gasket.

[0040] Mounting gaskets of the present technology' discussed above may provide one or more advantages over previously known mounting gaskets. In at least some instances where the mounting gasket is made of TPE instead of nitrile rubber, there may be a reduced material cost for the amount of TPE as compared to an equal amount of nitrile rubber. Additionally, use of the chamfer and / or the smaller outer diameter may reduce the overall amount of material used to make the mounting gasket as compared to an otherwise identical mounting gasket (e.g.. mounting gasket 500 compared to mounting gasket 600 of Figure 8), which may reduce production costs. Mounting gaskets of the present technology may be optimized, with respect to the amount of material removed, or width and depth of the indentations, to provide as much material removal as possible without negatively effecting the function or performance of the part.

[0041] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that although specific examples have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. It is therefore intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that it is the following claims, including all equivalents, that are intended to particularly point out and distinctly claim the claimed subj ect matter.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A mounting gasket for a food waste disposer, the mounting gasket comprising: a top edge; an inner edge that extends inwardly from the top edge; a bottom edge; and an outer sidewall that extends from the bottom edge to the top edge, the outer sidewall having a lower outer edge and an upper outer edge, wherein the upper outer edge extends along at least about one third of a height of the of the outer sidewall, and the upper outer edge is chamfered such that the upper outer edge extends inwardly at an angle from the lower outer edge to the top edge.

2. The mounting gasket of claim 1, further comprising an inlet receiver formed on an internal side of an outer rim of the mounting gasket under the inner edge, the inlet receiver bring configured to receive an inlet of a housing of a food conveying section of a food waste disposer.

3. The mounting gasket of claim 1, wherein the bottom edge includes a step that is configured to receive a foot of a lower mounting flange.

4. The mounting gasket of claim 1 , wherein the upper outer edge of the outer sidewall extends from at least about one third of the height of the of the outer sidewall to at least about one half of the height of the of the outer sidewall.

5. The mounting gasket of claim 1, wherein the angle from which the upper outer edge extends from the lower outer edge is less than about 45°.

6. The mounting gasket of claim 1, wherein the angle from which the upper outer edge extends from the lower outer edge is from about 15° to about 40°.

7. The mounting gasket of claim 1 , wherein the mounting gasket is made of a material that comprises thermoplastic elastomer.

8. The mounting gasket of claim 1, wherein the outer sidewall comprises at least one indentation that extends along a portion of the lower outer edge 406 and along a portion of the upper outer edge.

9. A food waste disposer system comprising: a sink flange assembly that includes a sink flange and an upper mounting flange; and a disposer assembly that connects to the disposer assembly, the disposer assembly includes a food waste disposer, a mounting gasket, and a lower mounting flange that has a foot; wherein the food waste disposer includes food conveying section having a housing that forms an inlet, the inlet having an upper flange; wherein the sink flange includes a lower end; wherein the mounting gasket contacts the lower end of the sink flange and the inlet of the housing of the food conveying section, and the mounting gasket has an outer rim, the outer rim including: a top edge; an inner edge that extends inwardly from the top edge; a bottom edge; and an outer sidewall that extends from the bottom edge to the top edge, the outer sidewall having a lower outer edge and an upper outer edge, wherein the upper outer edge extends along at least about one third of a height of the of the outer sidewall, and the upper outer edge is chamfered such that the upper outer edge extends inwardly at an angle from the lower outer edge to the top edge.

10. The food waste disposer system of claim 9, wherein the mounting gasket further comprises an inlet receiver formed on an internal side of the outer rim under the inneredge, the inlet receiver bring configured to receive the upper flange of the inlet the food conveying section of the food waste disposer.1 1. The food waste disposer system of claim 9, wherein the bottom edge of the mounting gasket comprises a step that receives the foot of the lower mounting flange.

12. The food waste disposer system of claim 9, wherein the mounting gasket contacts the lower mounting flange, the lower end of the sink flange, and the upper flange of the inlet of the food conveying section of the food waste disposer.

13. The food waste disposer system of claim 9, wherein the upper outer edge of the outer sidewall extends from at least about one third of the height of the of the outer sidewall to at least about one half of the height of the of the outer sidewall.

14. The food waste disposer system of claim 9, wherein the angle from which the upper outer edge extends from the lower outer edge is less than about 45°.

15. The food waste disposer system of claim 9, wherein the angle from which the upper outer edge extends from the lower outer edge is from about 15° to about 40°.

16. The food waste disposer system of claim 10, wherein the mounting gasket is made of a material that comprises thermoplastic elastomer.

17. The food waste disposer system of claim 9. wherein the outer sidewall comprises at least one indentation that extends along a portion of the lower outer edge 406 and along a portion of the upper outer edge.

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