Abstract:
A waste food disposer operation control apparatus that comprises a waste food disposer having an opening for accepting waste material, a flexible hose with a source end and a nozzle end with the source end operationally connected to a controllable water source, a nozzle operationally connected to the hose nozzle end with the nozzle adapted to be positioned in the disposer opening, and an activator means for activating the disposer when the nozzle is positioned in the disposer opening.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable 
   REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
   Not Applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to waste food disposers, more particularly, to an apparatus for controlling operation of a waste food disposer. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Under-sink waste food disposers are common household appliances. There are two basic types of disposers: continuous feed and batch feed. In a continuous feed disposer, the unit is turned on by a remote wall switch before inserting the waste. The waste is inserted in small quantities as the disposer is running until there is no more. In a batch feed disposer, a load of waste is inserted into the grind chamber and the motor is started by placing a stopper down into the mouth of the drain flange. Typically, the stopper has a permanent magnet that is sensed when the stopper is inserted into the drain, either starting the disposer, thereby starting the motor. 
   There are several shortcomings to the batch feed disposer. First, the disposer cannot run without the stopper, making the stopper indispensable. Unfortunately, the stopper is not attached to anything, so it can be misplaced or lost, rendering the disposer useless. Second, a disposer relies on a lot of water to turn the food bits into a slurry that can be easy flushed through to the drain. With a stopper, the flow of water into the disposer may be restricted, resulting in less than optimal performance of the disposer. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to provide an operation control apparatus for waste food disposers that is always available and that does not restrict the flow of water into the disposer. 
   The present invention is a waste food disposer operation control apparatus that comprises a waste food disposer having an opening for accepting waste material, a flexible hose with a source end and a nozzle end with the source end operationally connected to a controllable water source, a nozzle operationally connected to the hose nozzle end with the nozzle adapted to be positioned in the disposer opening, and an activator means for activating the disposer when the nozzle is positioned in the disposer opening. 
   Pull-out faucets, side sprays, and spring faucets are well-known. Essentially, these have a flexible hose with a nozzle at the end. The flexible hose permits a person to move the nozzle around the sink area as desired. For the present invention, a mechanism for controlling the activation of the disposer is incorporated into the nozzle and disposer such that the nozzle must be positioned in the disposer opening in order to activate the disposer. 
   There are a number of such mechanisms known in the art, any and all of which are contemplated for use by the present invention. A relatively common mechanism integrates a permanent magnet into the side of the nozzle and positions a magnetic sensor adjacent to the disposer opening. When the nozzle is inserted into the opening, the sensor senses the presence of the magnet, which activate the disposer. 
   Optionally, the nozzle-activated mechanism is in series with a wall switch. Optionally, the nozzle-activated mechanism is in series with a water-flow sensor so that the water must be turned on to a predetermined minimum volume. Optionally, the faucet includes a mechanism that turns the water on to a predetermined minimum volume when the nozzle is inserted into the disposer opening. 
   Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in light of the following drawings and detailed description of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying figure, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-section of the pull-out faucet embodiment of the waste food disposer operation control apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-section of the side spray embodiment of the waste food disposer operation control apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-section of the spring faucet embodiment of the waste food disposer operation control apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a close up view of the permanent magnet embodiment of the disposer controller; and 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram of the basic control circuit of the present invention with optional enhancements. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is an apparatus for controlling the operation of a batch-type waste food disposer while simultaneously supplying the water needed to flush the ground food particles. The basic apparatus is a pull-out faucet nozzle that is shaped to fit into the sink drain. 
   A common batch feed waste disposer  12  is shown in  FIG. 1 . The disposer  12  has a housing  20  in which resides an electric motor  22  that spins a turntable  24  in a grind chamber  26 . An opening  28  in the top of the disposer  12  mounted in the sink drain  30  provides access for inserting waste into the grind chamber  26 . A flexible shield  32  inhibits waste from being thrown back through the opening  28 . Waste in the grind chamber  26  is flung outwardly by the turntable  24  against a series of cutting teeth  34  on a grind ring  36  around the perimeter. Slingers  38  on the turntable  24  are located near the edge and assist in keeping the waste spinning against the grind ring  36 . The grind ring  36  reduces the waste into particles about the size of rice grains. The ground particles are flushed by running water through the disposer outlet  40  and into a drain line  42 . This flushing is important to prevent a buildup of residue in the disposer  12 , as well as in the drain line  42 . 
   Pull-out faucets are well-known. A basic pull-out faucet  14 , shown in  FIG. 1 , has a curved, hollow body  50  with an open top end  52  and an open bottom end  54  attached to the sink rim  66 . A flexible hose  56  extends from a water supply  60  into the bottom end  54  and through the top end  52 , with a loop  64  between the water supply and bottom end  54 . A nozzle  17  is attached to the free end of the hose  56 . The top end  52  of the body  50  is shaped to allow the nozzle  17  to seat within the body  50 . As the nozzle  17  is pulled from the top end  52 , the hose  56  slides through the body  50 . Generally, a biasing mechanism (not shown) returns the nozzle  17  to the top end  52  when the pulling force is removed from the nozzle  17 . The water supply  60  includes a knob  62  or other mechanism for controlling the flow of water from the nozzle  17 . 
   Also well-known are side sprays  16 . The basic side spray  16 , shown in  FIG. 2 , has a flexible hose  70  extending from a water supply  72  through a cup  74  in the sink rim  76  to a spray nozzle  17  that seats in the cup  74  when not in use. In use, the nozzle  17  is pulled from the cup  74  and the water is controlled by a trigger  80 . 
   Another type of faucet with a flexible hose is the spring faucet  15  shown in  FIG. 3 . The spring faucet  15  has a flexible hose  82  extending from a rigid stem  84  through a spring  86 . The nozzle  17  at the end of the hose  82  clips into a rigid arm  90 . In use, the nozzle  17  is unclipped from the arm  90  and can be pulled toward the disposer opening  28 . The water to the nozzle  17  is controlled by a knob  92  or other mechanism. When released, the spring  86  acts as a biasing mechanism to return the nozzle  17  to the vicinity of the arm  90 , to which it can be reclipped. 
   Although the present invention is described as being implemented with pull-out faucets, side sprays, and spring faucets, it is understood that other configurations of nozzles on flexible hoses can be employed. 
   In the present invention, the disposer  12  and nozzle  17  of the prior art are modified by adding a mechanism for controlling the operation of the disposer  12 , requiring that the nozzle  17  be positioned in the disposer opening  28  before the disposer  12  will operate. Optionally, a twist-lock design holds the nozzle  17  in the opening  28  so that the user does not have to continuously pull against any biasing mechanism that returns the nozzle  17  to its normal position. 
   There are a number of mechanisms  18  known in the art to control a waste disposer  12  by inserting a stopper into the disposer opening  28 . Any one or more of these same mechanisms  18  can be incorporated into the nozzle  17  and disposer opening  28  of the present invention. In a relatively common mechanism, shown in  FIG. 4 , a permanent magnet  96  is integrated into the side  68  of the nozzle  17  and a magnetic sensor  98  is positioned adjacent to the disposer opening  28 . When the nozzle  17  is inserted into the opening  28 , the sensor  98  senses the presence of the magnet  96 , which drives a circuit to activate the disposer  12 . A different mechanism positions an inductive sensor in the disposer opening  28  so that when the metallic nozzle  17  is inserted into the opening  28 , the sensor activates the disposer  12 . Another mechanism is a mechanical switch in the opening  28  that is activated by inserting the nozzle  17 . 
   Optionally, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the nozzle-activated mechanism  18  is in series with a wall switch  100  so that the disposer  12  is only started when both the nozzle  17  is seated in the disposer opening  28  and the wall switch  100  is activated. 
   Optionally, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the nozzle-activated mechanism  18  is in series with a water-flow sensor  102  so that the disposer  12  is only started when both the nozzle  17  is seated in the disposer opening  28  and the water is turned on to a predetermined minimum volume. This configuration ensures that there is enough water flow for optimal operation of the disposer  12 . 
   Optionally, the faucet includes a mechanism that turns the water on to a predetermined minimum volume when the nozzle  17  is inserted into the disposer opening  28 , ensuring that the water is running when the disposer  12  is activated. 
   Thus it has been shown and described a waste food disposer operation control apparatus which satisfies the objects set forth above. 
   Since certain changes may be made in the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the present invention, it is intended that all matter described in the foregoing specification and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.