Patent Publication Number: US-2015083838-A1

Title: Magnetically Activated Switch For Food Waste Disposer

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/611,130 filed on Sep. 12, 2012. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a food waste disposer, and more particularly, to a magnetically activated switch assembly for a food waste disposer. 
     BACKGROUND 
     This section provides background information related to the present disclosure and is not necessarily prior art. 
     A food waste disposer may be mounted underneath a sink to receive liquid and food waste that passes through a drain of the sink. The food waste disposer may grind the food waste into particles that are small enough to be passed through a plumbing system connected to the drain without clogging or otherwise damaging the plumbing system. 
     A typical food waste disposer may include a food conveying section, a motor section and a central grinding section disposed between the food conveying section and the motor section. The food conveying section conveys the food waste to the central grinding section. The grinding section typically has a shredder plate that is rotated relative to a stationary grind ring by an electric motor of the motor section. The motor has a rotor having a rotatable shaft coupled to the shredder plate. The electric motor can be an induction motor or any other suitable type of motor, such as a brushless motor, universal motor, or switched reluctance motor, for example. 
     A batch-feed food waste disposer, as opposed to a continuous-feed food waste disposer, operates by grinding a discrete quantity of food waste before more food waste can be inserted into the food waste disposer. That is, a user may fill the disposer with a quantity or batch of food waste, then at least partially block the drain opening with an activation member or stopper before a motor of the disposer can be operated to grind the food waste in the manner described above. Removing the activation member from the drain opening will deactivate the motor and will allow the user to insert a subsequent batch of food waste into the disposer and repeat the above process. Examples of switch assemblies for a batch-feed food waste disposer are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,500,626 for “Switching Mechanism for a Batch Feed Waste Disposer” issued Mar. 10, 2009 and in U.S. Pat. No. 7,757,981 for “Switching Assembly for a Batch Feed Waste Disposer” issued Jul. 20, 2010. The entire disclosures of these two patents are incorporated herein by reference. 
     SUMMARY 
     This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. 
     In one form, the present disclosure provides an apparatus for selectively activating a food waste disposer system for a sink. The apparatus may include a housing and an activation member. The housing may include a switch and a first magnet. The first magnet may be movable relative to the housing and the switch between a first position and a second position. Movement of the first magnet from the second position to the first position may cause corresponding movement of the switch from an off-position in which electrical current is prevented from reaching a motor of the food waste disposer system to an on-position allowing electrical current to the motor. The activation member may include a second magnet and may be adapted to be at least partially received in a tubular member through which waste drains from the sink and positioned relative to the tubular member in a manner that places the second magnet in sufficiently close proximity to the first magnet to generate a repulsive magnetic force that moves the first magnet from the second position to the first position. 
     In another form, the present disclosure provides a food waste disposer system for a sink that may include a disposer unit, a tubular member, a switch unit, an activation member, a track and a protrusion. The disposer unit may include a grinding mechanism and a motor drivingly connected to the grinding mechanism. The tubular member couples to an inlet of a food conveying section of the disposer unit and is securable to a sink flange, extends between the inlet of the food conveying section and the sink flange, and communicates waste from the sink into the disposer unit. The switch unit may be mounted to the tubular member and may include a first magnet that is movable relative to the tubular member between a first position in which the switch unit is in a first state allowing activation of the motor and a second position in which the switch unit is in a second state preventing activation of the motor. The activation member may be at least partially receivable within the tubular member for relative rotation therebetween. The activation member may include a second magnet positioned such that rotational alignment between the first and second magnets causes the first magnet to move to the first position. The track may include a detent and may be formed on one of a radially outer surface of the activation member and an inner circumferential portion of the tubular member. The protrusion may be formed on the other of the radially outer surface of the activation member and the inner circumferential portion of the tubular member. The protrusion may be adapted to slidably engage the track to facilitate relative rotation between the activation member and the tubular member and may be at least partially receivable in the detent to rotationally align the first and second magnets. 
     In another form, the present disclosure provides a device adapted to retrofit a batch-feed switch system onto a continuous-feed food waste disposer. The food waste disposer may include an inlet portion including a tubular body and a flange portion extending radially outward from the tubular body. The batch-feed switch system may include an extension tube having a plurality of protuberances extending therefrom. The device may include a generally annular body having a plurality of slots receiving the plurality of protuberances to removably secure the device to the extension tube. The annular body may be adapted to engage the inlet portion such that the annular body of the device extends around the tubular body of the inlet portion. 
     Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary disposer unit; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of a food waste disposer system including the disposer unit of  FIG. 1  and a batch-feed switch assembly mounted to the disposer unit according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the batch-feed switch assembly according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a partially cross-sectioned exploded perspective view of a stopper and extension tube of the batch-feed switch assembly; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the stopper and extension tube with the stopper in a sealed position according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the stopper and extension tube with the stopper in a park position according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the stopper and extension tube with the stopper in a run position according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is a partially cutaway overhead view of the stopper, the extension tube and a switch unit with the stopper in the run position according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of the extension tube and a lock ring according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  is a partial cross-sectional view of the extension tube secured to an inlet of the disposer unit by the lock ring according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of another extension tube and another lock ring according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the extension tube and lock ring of  FIG. 11  engaged with each other according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded perspective view of yet another extension tube and yet another lock ring according to the principles of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the extension tube and lock ring of  FIG. 13  engaged with each other according to the principles of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. 
     When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. 
       FIG. 1  depicts a prior art food waste disposer  100  which can be mounted for communication with a drain opening of a sink (not shown). The food waste disposer  100  can be similar to the food waste disposer described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,360,729, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The disposer  100  may include an upper food conveying section  102 , a central grinding section  104  and a motor section  106 , which may include a variable speed motor. It should be understood that motor section  106  could also include a fixed speed motor, such as an induction motor. The central grinding section  104  is disposed between the food conveying section  102  and the motor section  106 . 
     The food conveying section  102  conveys the food waste to the central grinding section  104 . The food conveying section  102  may include an inlet housing  108  and a conveying housing  110 . The inlet housing  108  may include an inlet  107  at an upper end of the disposer  100  for receiving food waste and water. The inlet  107  may be surrounded by a gasket  111 . The inlet housing  108  can be attached to the conveying housing  110  by an anti-vibration mount  113 , for example. 
     The conveying housing  110  may include an opening  142  to receive a dishwasher inlet  144 . The dishwasher inlet  144  is used to pass water and food waste from a dishwasher (not shown) to the disposer  100 . The inlet housing  108  and conveying housing  110  may be made of metal or plastic, for example. In some embodiments, the inlet housing  108  and conveying housing  110  may be one unitary piece. 
     The central grinding section  104  may include a grinding mechanism  114  having a shredder plate assembly  116  and a stationary grind ring  118 . The housing  112  is formed as a clamp ring and clamps conveying housing  110  to an upper end bell  136  of motor section  106 . The stationary grind ring  118 , which includes a plurality of spaced teeth  120  (only two of which are indicated by reference number  120  in  FIG. 1 ), may be received in an adaptor ring  122  disposed between the housing  112  and the stationary grind ring  118 . A gasket  123  is disposed between the adaptor ring  122  and an upper portion  125  of the housing  112 . A bottom flange  127  of the conveying housing  110  is received in the gasket  123  and the gasket  123  seals the conveying housing  110  to the adaptor ring  122 . 
     The shredder plate assembly  116  may include a rotating shredder plate  124  mounted to a rotatable shaft  126  of a motor  128  of the motor section  106 , such as by a bolt  130 . The motor  128  also includes a rotor  129  to which the rotatable shaft  126  is affixed and a stator  131 . A plurality of fixed lugs  132  (only one of which is shown in  FIG. 1 ) are mounted on the rotating shredder plate  124  as are a plurality of swivel lugs  134  (only one of which is shown in  FIG. 1 ). It should be understood that in this regard, the rotating shredder plate assembly  116  could include only the fixed lugs  132  or only the swivel lugs  134 . 
     The motor section  106  includes an upper end bell  136  affixed to a bottom  138  of the grinding section  104 . The upper end bell  136  includes a discharge chamber  140  having a discharge outlet  141  for coupling to a tailpipe or drainpipe (not shown). 
     In an aspect, the food waste disposer  100  may include a trim shell  146  that surrounds the food conveying section  102 , the grinding section  104  and the motor section  106 . A layer of sound insulation  148  may be disposed between the trim shell  146  and the conveying housing  110  of the food conveying section  102  and the housing  112  of the grinding section  104 . 
     In the operation of the food waste disposer  100 , the food waste delivered by the food conveying section  102  to the grinding section  104  is forced by the lugs  132 ,  134  of the rotating shredder plate assembly  116  against the teeth  120  of the stationary grind ring  118 . The sharp edges of the teeth  120  grind or comminute the food waste into particulate matter that combines with water, such as water that entered the food waste disposer through inlet  107 , to form a slurry that drops into the discharge chamber  140 . This slurry is then discharged through the discharge outlet (not shown) into the tailpipe or drainpipe (not shown). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a food waste disposer system  300  is provided that may include the disposer  100  and a batch-feed switch assembly  304 , it being understood that disposer  100  has the modifications discussed below. The food waste disposer system  300  mounts to a sink flange  302  that may be disposed in a drain opening of a sink (not shown). The batch-feed switch assembly  304  may be coupled to the disposer  100  and the sink flange  302  to fluidly couple the sink and the disposer  100 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2-8 , the batch-feed switch assembly  304  may include an activation member, which may be stopper  306 , an extension tube  308 , a switch unit  310  and a lock ring  312  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). As shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , the stopper  306  may include a generally hollow cylindrical body  314 , a seal  316 , and a handle  318 . The body  314  can be molded, cast, machined or otherwise formed from a polymeric or metallic material, for example, and may include an outer circumferential portion  320  and a cap portion  322 . The cap portion  322  can be integrally formed with the circumferential portion  320  or may be secured thereto by one or more fasteners or a press or snap fit, for example. The seal  316  may be a polymeric or elastomeric member, for example, and may sealingly engage the body  314 . The handle  318  may be integrally formed with the cap portion  322  or secured thereto by a snap or press fit or by a screw or other fastener, for example. 
     One or more first magnets  324  ( FIG. 4 ) may be imbedded into or received in the circumferential portion  320  of the stopper  306  (via adhesive bonding and/or a press or snap-fit, for example). In the particular embodiment shown in the figures, the stopper  306  includes two first magnets  324  angularly spaced apart from each other by one-hundred-eighty degrees. The first magnets  324  may be oriented relative to the circumferential portion  320  such that ends  325  of the first magnets  324  having a first polarity are facing radially outward and ends  327  of the first magnets  324  having a second opposite polarity face radially inward. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4-8 , the outer circumferential portion  320  may include a track  326  formed therein. The track  326  may include a pair of upper portions  328 , a pair of lower portions  330  (only one of which is shown in  FIGS. 4-8 ). The lower portions  330  may be disposed one-hundred-eighty degrees apart and between the upper portions  328 . The lower portions  330  may be disposed axially further from the cap portion  322  than the upper portions  328 . Each upper portion  328  is connected to a corresponding one of the lower portions  330  by a ramp portion  332 . Each lower portion  330  may include a first detent  334  and a second detent  336 . The first detent  334  of each lower portion  330  may be disposed between the corresponding second detent  336  and ramp portion  332 . The lower portions  330  may also include a stop wall  337  disposed adjacent the corresponding second detent  336 . The track  326  may also include a pair of diverters  338 , each of which may be disposed axially beneath a corresponding one of the lower portions  330 . 
     The extension tube  308  may include a generally tubular body  340 , a flange  342 , and a plurality of feet  344 . The flange  342  may extend radially outward from the body  340  and may engage the switch unit  310  via a snap fit and/or any suitable fastening means. The body  340  may include an upper open end  346  (as oriented when extension tube  308  is attached to the sink as discussed below), a lower open end  348  and an inner circumferential portion  347  (shown in  FIG. 4 ). The plurality of feet  344  may extend axially from the lower end  348  and may include stems  349  and barbed portions  351  that extend radially outward from the stems  349 . Each of the barbed portions  351  may include an inclined surface  353 . 
     The inner circumferential portion  347  of the extension tube  308  may include a pair of protrusions  352  extending radially inward therefrom. As shown in  FIG. 4 , each protrusion  352  may include a body  354  and a lobe  356  extending axially upward from the body  354 . The protrusions  352  may be spaced one-hundred-eighty degrees apart from each other. In some embodiments, the extension tube  308  may include only a single protrusion  352 . 
     The extension tube  308  may be attached to the sink using a mounting assembly such as the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,025,007, for example, or any other suitable mounting assembly. The mounting assembly can include a sink flange assembly, a mounting gasket  350  ( FIG. 2 ) and a lower mounting flange  357  ( FIG. 2 ). The sink flange assembly may include the sink flange  302  ( FIG. 2 ), a sink gasket (not shown), a back-up flange (not shown), an upper mounting flange (not shown), bolts (not shown) and a retaining ring (not shown). As shown in  FIG. 2 , the mounting gasket  350  is placed over the upper open end  346  of the extension tube  308  with the lower mounting flange  357  of the mounting assembly disposed below mounting gasket  350 . The lower mounting flange  357  is then moved up to engage the upper mounting flange and removably secured to the upper mounting flange. The mounting gasket  350  is compressed between the upper open end  346  of extension tube  308  and a lower end of the sink flange. If the disposer  100  were installed as a continuous-feed disposer, the mounting gasket  350  is placed around inlet housing  108  (illustratively around an upper edge thereof) of the disposer  100  and could be mounting directly to the lower mounting flange  357 . Therefore, the batch-feed switch assembly  304  can be retrofitted to a pre-existing continuous-feed disposer by placing the mounting gasket  350  over the upper end  346  of the extension tube  308  with the lower mounting flange  357  disposed beneath it and attaching the lower end  348  of the extension tube  308  to the inlet housing  108  of the disposer  100  via the lock ring  312 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5-7 , the stopper  306  may be received in the extension tube  308  such that the protrusions  352  engage the track  326  of the stopper  306 . As will be subsequently described, the stopper  306  is selectively positionable relative to the extension tube  308  among a seal position ( FIG. 5 ), a park position ( FIG. 6 ) and a run position ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ). In the seal position, the protrusions  352  may slidably engage a corresponding one of the upper portions  328  of the track  326 . In the park position, the lobe  356  of each protrusion  352  may engage a corresponding first detent  334 . In the run position, the lobe  356  of each protrusion  352  may engage a corresponding second detent  336 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , when the stopper  306  is in the seal position, the seal  316  of the stopper may sealingly engage an inner surface  358  of the sink flange  302  or an inner diameter of the mounting gasket  350 , thereby preventing fluid from flowing through the extension tube  308  from the drain. As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , when the stopper  306  is in either of the park or run positions (as well as when the protrusions  352  are engaged with any part of the lower portion  330  or ramp portion  332  of the track  326 ), the seal  316  is spaced apart from the inner surface  358  of the sink flange  302 , thereby allowing fluid to flow from the drain, through the extension tube  308  and into the disposer  100 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the switch unit  310  may include a switch housing  360 , a switching mechanism  362 , a second magnet  364 , and a plurality of wires  366 . The switch housing  360  may contain and surround the switching mechanism  362 , second magnet  364  and at least portions of the wires  366 . The switching mechanism  362  (shown schematically in  FIG. 8 ) and wires  366  are in electrical communication with the motor  180  of the disposer  100  and a source of electrical current (e.g., an electrical system of a house or building in which the sink and food waste disposer system  300  are installed). The switching mechanism  362  may be operable in a first state to prevent communication between the motor  180  and the source of electrical current and a second state allowing communication between the motor  180  and the source of electrical current. 
     The second magnet  364  may be slidable within the switch housing  360  toward and away from the stopper  306  and the inner circumferential portion  347  of the extension tube  308  between an off-position (shown in solid lines in  FIG. 8 ) and an on-position (shown in phantom lines in  FIG. 8 ). The second magnet  364  may include first and second ends  368 ,  370  having opposite polarity. The first end  368  may be disposed closer to the stopper  306  and the inner circumferential portion  347  and may have a polarity that is the same as the polarity of the first ends  325  of the first magnets  324  in the stopper  306 . 
     Therefore, when the first end  325  of either of the first magnets  324  is moved into sufficiently close proximity to the first end  368 , a repulsive magnetic force is generated that causes the second magnet  364  to move relative to the switch housing  360  from the off-position to the on-position. When the first magnets  324  are sufficiently spaced apart from the second magnet  364 , a spring  372  forces the second magnet  364  back to the off-position. The first magnets  324  are positioned in the stopper  306  and the second magnet  364  is positioned relative to the protrusions  352  of the extension tube  308  such that when the stopper  306  is in the run position ( FIG. 7 ) relative to the extension tube  308 , the first magnets  324  are substantially angularly aligned with the second magnet  364  (as shown in  FIG. 8 ) and one of the first magnets  324  is in close enough proximity to the second magnet  364  to generate the repulsive magnetic force that moves the second magnet  364  into the on-position. Moving the stopper  306  into the park position ( FIG. 6 ) or the seal position ( FIG. 5 ) will move the first magnets  324  far enough away from the second magnet  364  to allow the spring  372  to overcome any remaining magnetic force acting on the second magnet  364  and move the second magnet to the off-position. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the lock ring  312  may be a generally annular member having a slit  374  and a plurality of slots  376 . The lock ring  312  may be formed from a semi-rigid polymeric or metallic material, for example. The slit  374  may extend through the lock ring  312  and may allow the lock ring  312  to be resiliently stretched open (i.e., stretched to temporarily expand a diameter of the lock ring  312 ). In this manner, the lock ring  312  can be stretched to be snap fitted onto the inlet housing  108  of the disposer  100 . That is, the lock ring  312  can be stretched to snap over a radially extending flange  109  of the inlet housing  108 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     Each of the slots  376  may define a cavity having an insertion opening  378  and a channeled portion  380 . The insertion opening  378  may be sized to allow the barbed portion  351  of the feet  344  of the extension tube  308  to be inserted therethrough into the slots  376 . The channeled portion  380  may be sized such that the stem  349  of the feet  344  can extend therethrough, while the barbed portion  351  of the feet  344  cannot be inserted or removed therethrough. The channeled portion  380  may have an inclined surface  382  that slidably engages the inclined surfaces  353  of the feet  344 . 
     When connecting the lock ring  312  to the extension tube  308 , the feet  344  of the extension tube  308  can be inserted into the insertion openings  378  of the slots  376 . Once the barbed portions  351  of the feet  344  are received within the slots  376 , the lock ring  312  may be rotated relative to the extension tube  308  such that the inclined surfaces  382  of the lock ring  312  slide along the inclined surfaces  353  of the feet  344 . In this manner, the inclined surfaces  353 ,  382  cooperate to act as a threaded connection and create an axial compression force that biases the lower end  348  of the extension tube  308  into sealing engagement with the flange  109  of the inlet housing  108 . A sealing member  384  may engage the lower end  348  and the flange  109  to facilitate a sealed relationship therebetween. 
     With particular reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  5 - 8 , operation of the batch-feed switch assembly  304  will be described in detail. The batch-feed switch assembly  304  may be operable to selectively activate the motor  180  of the disposer  100  to grind a discrete batch of food and/or other objects and subsequently deactivate the motor  180  before another batch of food and/or objects can be inserted into the disposer  100  to be ground. 
     For example, with the stopper  306  removed from the extension tube  308 , a user may place a quantity of food and/or other waste down the drain of the sink (i.e., through the sink flange  302 ), through the extension tube  308  and into the grinding section  104  of the disposer  100 . The stopper  306  may then be inserted into the extension tube  308  such that the track  326  on the stopper  306  slidably engages the protrusion  352  on the extension tube  308 . The stopper  306  may then be moved relative to the extension tube  308  into the run position (i.e., the position shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8  in which the protrusion(s)  352  is(are) engaged with the second detent(s)  336  of the track  326 ). Moving the stopper  306  into the run position activates the motor  180 , which causes the disposer  100  to grind the batch of food that the user had placed therein prior to inserting the stopper  306  into the extension tube  308 . As described above, when the stopper  306  is in the run position, the seal  316  on the stopper  306  is spaced apart from the inner surface  358  of the sink flange  302  (as shown in  FIG. 7 ). This allows water from a faucet of the sink to continue to flow down the drain of the sink and into the disposer  100  while the disposer  100  is operating so that a constant flow of water can flush the ground food and/or waste out of the disposer  100  through the discharge outlet  162 . 
     After grinding the food and/or waste, the user may rotate the stopper  306  to the park position (i.e., the position shown in  FIG. 6  in which the protrusion(s)  352  is(are) engaged with the first detent(s)  334  of the track  326 ), which separates the first magnets  324  from the second magnet  364  so that the spring  372  can force the second magnet  364  to the off-position. As described above, this causes the switch unit  310  to prevent electrical current from reaching the motor  180 , thereby deactivating the disposer  100 . In the park position, the seal  316  is spaced apart from the inner surface  358  of the sink flange  302  to allow water to drain from the sink, through the extension tube  308  and into the disposer  100 . 
     From the park position, the user can either return the stopper  306  to the run position or rotate the stopper  306  in the opposite direction toward the seal position (i.e., the position shown in  FIG. 5  in which the protrusion(s)  352  is(are) engaged with the upper portions  328  of the track  326 ). Once the stopper  306  is rotated to a position in which the protrusion(s)  352  is(are) engaged with or adjacent to the ramp portion(s)  332  of the track  326 , the protrusion(s)  352  may be angularly spaced apart from the diverter(s)  338 , which allows the user to lift the stopper  306  axially out of the extension tube  308  to remove the stopper  306  from the drain opening. If the stopper  306  is positioned relative to the extension tube  308  in any position such that the protrusion(s)  352  is(are) between or engaged with either of the first and second detents  334 ,  336 , the diverter(s)  338  may prevent the stopper  306  from being lifted axially out of the extension tube  308 . 
     With the stopper  306  removed from the extension tube  308 , the user may insert additional food waste through the extension tube  308  and into the disposer to be ground once the stopper  306  is replaced in the extension tube  308  and moved into the run position, as described above. 
     As described above, when the stopper  306  is moved into the seal position ( FIG. 5 ), the seal  316  of the stopper  306  may sealingly engage the inner surface  358  of the sink flange  302  to prevent water from flowing through the sink flange  302  and into the extension tube  308 . Therefore, with the stopper  306  in the seal position, the user may continue to run water out of the faucet to fill up the basin of the sink to soak or wash dishes therein, for example. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , another extension tube  408  and another lock ring  412  are provided. The extension tube  408  and lock ring  412  can be incorporated into the batch-feed switch assembly  304  described above in place of the extension tube  308  and lock ring  312 . The structure and function of the extension tube  408  and lock ring  412  may be substantially similar to that of the extension tube  308  and lock ring  312  described above, apart from any exceptions described below and/or shown in the figures. 
     The extension tube  408  may include a generally tubular body  440 , a flange  442 , a plurality of feet  444  having inclined surfaces  453 , a plurality of teeth  445 , and a tool-engagement feature  447 . The structure and function of the body  440 , flange  442  and feet  444  may be substantially similar to that of the body  340 , flange  342  and feet  344 , respectively, and therefore, will not be described again in detail. The teeth  445  may be protrusions that extend radially outward from a lower rim  441  of the body  440  from which the feet  444  extend. The teeth  445  may include a ramped surface  448  and an engagement surface  450 . While  FIGS. 11 and 12  depict the extension tube  408  having two teeth  445  spaced approximately one hundred eighty degrees apart, it will be appreciated that the extension tube  408  could have only a single tooth  445  or four evenly spaced teeth  445 , for example, or any other number and arrangement of teeth  445 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the tool-engagement feature  447  can be a generally tubular member that may extend outward from the body  440  and may be generally tangential to a surface  451  of the body  440 . A hole  452  may extend at least partially through the tool-engagement feature  447  and may be sized and shaped to receive a shaft of a wrench (not shown) or any other tool or lever. A user may insert the shaft of the wrench or other tool into the hole  452  to provide leverage for the user to apply a torque to the extension tube  408  during assembly of the batch-feed switch assembly  304  and/or installation of the batch-feed switch assembly  304  into the food waste disposer system  300 . 
     The lock ring  412  may be a generally annular member and may include a slit  474 , a plurality of slots  476  and a plurality of resiliently flexible locking arms  478 . The slit  474  and slots  476  may be substantially similar to that of the slit  374  and slots  376  described above, and therefore, will not be described again in detail. The locking arms  478  may extend from a body  413  of the lock ring  412  and may be generally concentric with the body  413 . The locking arms  478  may include a proximal end  480  and a distal end  482 . The proximal end  480  may be attached to or integrally formed with the body  413 . The distal end  482  may include a locking tab  484  that includes a thickness T1 (shown in  FIG. 11 ) that is greater than a thickness T2 (shown in  FIG. 11 ) of the proximal end  480  and body  413 . 
     It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the lock ring  412  could be formed such that the body  413  may be only a semi-annular body. That is, the body  413  may only extend between approximately one hundred eighty and approximately two hundred seventy degrees, for example, rather than nearly three hundred sixty degrees, as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . In such embodiments, the lock ring  412  may include only a pair of locking arms  478  and slots  476 . In other embodiments, the lock ring  412  could include two separate semi-annular bodies (each having a pair of locking arms  478  and slots  476 ) that may cooperate with each other to extend approximately three hundred sixty degrees around the extension tube  408 . 
     The lock ring  412  can be connected to the extension tube  408  by inserting the feet  444  of the extension tube  408  into the slots  476  of the lock ring  412  in a similar manner as described above with reference to the lock ring  312  and extension tube  308 . The extension tube  408  and lock ring  412  may be secured together by rotating the lock ring  412  relative to the extension tube  408  such that inclined surfaces  481  (shown in  FIG. 11 ) of the lock ring  412  slide along the inclined surfaces  453  (shown in  FIG. 11 ) of the feet  444  in the manner described above with reference to the lock ring  312  and extension tube  308 . As the feet  444  slide toward narrow ends  477  (shown in  FIG. 11 ) of the slots  476 , the locking tabs  484  of the locking arms  478  will come into contact with and slide along the ramped surfaces  448  of the teeth  445 . As the locking tabs  484  slide along the ramped surfaces  448  toward the engagement surfaces  450 , the locking arms  478  will flex outward (as shown in phantom lines in  FIG. 12 ) until the locking tabs  484  are slid off of the ends  449  of the ramped surfaces  448 . When the locking tabs  484  are slid off of the ends  449  of the ramped surfaces  448 , the locking arms  478  may snap back inward so that engagement surfaces  485  of the locking tabs  484  abut the engagement surfaces  450  of the teeth  445  (shown in solid lines in  FIG. 12 ). In this manner, the locking tabs  484  and the teeth  445  cooperate to prevent the lock ring  412  and extension tube  408  from being inadvertently disassembled from each other. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , another extension tube  508  and another lock ring  512  are provided. The extension tube  508  and lock ring  512  can be incorporated into the batch-feed switch assembly  304  described above in place of the extension tube  308  and lock ring  312 . The structure and function of the extension tube  508  and lock ring  512  may be substantially similar to that of the extension tubes  308 ,  408  and lock rings  312 ,  412  described above, apart from any exceptions described below and/or shown in the figures. 
     The extension tube  508  may include a generally tubular body  540 , a flange  542 , a plurality of feet  544  having inclined surfaces  553 , and a plurality of tabs  545 . The structure and function of the body  540 , flange  542  and feet  544  may be substantially similar to that of the body  340 ,  440 , flange  342 ,  442  and feet  344 ,  444 , respectively, and therefore, will not be described again in detail. The tabs  545  may be protrusions that extend radially outward from a lower rim  541  of the body  540  from which the feet  544  extend. The tabs  545  may include a flexible body  548  having an end  550 . While  FIGS. 13 and 14  depict the extension tube  508  having two tabs  545  spaced approximately one hundred eighty degrees apart, it will be appreciated that the extension tube  508  could have only a single tab  545  or four evenly spaced tabs  545 , for example, or any other number and arrangement of tabs  545 . 
     The lock ring  512  may be a generally annular body formed from two identical semi-annular ring portions  573 . The ring portions  573  may be cast, molded and/or machined from a metallic or polymeric material, for example. Each of the ring portions  573  may include a plurality of slots  576  and a plurality of locking arms  578 . The slots  576  may be substantially similar to that of the slots  376 ,  476  described above, and therefore, will not be described again in detail. The locking arms  578  may be generally L-shaped members extending from a body  513  of a corresponding one of the ring portions  573 . When the lock ring  512  and extension tube  508  are installed onto the disposer  100 , distal ends  579  of the locking arms  578  may extend upward toward the tabs  545  of the extension tube  508 . 
     Each of the ring portions  573  may include a first end  580  and a second end  582 . The first end  580  may include a peg  586  and the second end  582  may include an aperture or slot  588 . To install the lock ring  512  onto the disposer  100 , the two ring portions  573  may be placed around the inlet housing  108  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 10 ) and moved together underneath the flange  109  of the inlet housing  108  such that the peg  586  of each ring portion  573  is received in the aperture or slot  588  of the other ring portion  573 . 
     The lock ring  512  can be connected to the extension tube  508  by inserting the feet  544  of the extension tube  508  into the slots  576  of the lock ring  512  in a similar manner as described above with reference to the lock ring  312  and extension tube  308 . The extension tube  508  and lock ring  512  may be secured together by rotating the lock ring  512  relative to the extension tube  508  such that inclined surfaces  581  (shown in  FIG. 13 ) of the lock ring  512  slide along the inclined surfaces  553  of the feet  544  in the manner described above with reference to the lock ring  312  and extension tube  308 . As the feet  544  slide toward narrow ends  577  (shown in  FIG. 13 ) of the slots  576 , the tabs  545  may be flexed upward to provide clearance for the locking arms  578  to pass underneath the tabs  545 . Once the extension tube  508  has been rotated to the position shown in  FIG. 14 , where the tabs  545  are clear of the locking arms  578 , the tabs  545  can be released so that the ends  550  of the tabs  545  can return to the same plane as the distal ends  579  of the locking arms  578 , as shown in  FIG. 14 . In the position shown in  FIG. 14 , interference between the locking arms  578  and the tabs  545  may prevent the lock ring  512  and extension tube  508  from being inadvertently disassembled from each other. Furthermore, when the extension tube  508  is secured onto the ring portions  573  of the lock ring  512 , the ring portions  573  are prevented from disengaging each other. 
     While the batch-feed switch assembly  304  is described above as being mounted to and operable in conjunction with the disposer  100  and sink flange assembly, it will be appreciated that the batch-feed switch assembly  304  can be mounted to and operable in conjunction with any food waste disposer unit and/or any other mounting assembly. Furthermore, the batch-feed switch assembly  304  can retrofitted to a pre-existing or newly installed continuous-feed disposer unit, or the batch-feed switch assembly  304  can installed with a disposer unit that is designed and originally installed to be a batch-feed disposer. 
     It will be appreciated that while the stopper  306  is described above as being movable to a position (i.e., the seal position) that plugs the drain opening and prevents water from draining out of the sink, in some embodiments, the stopper  306  may not be equipped to perform this function. For example, stopper  306  may be a strainer that is received in the draining opening of the sink. Therefore, the terms “stopper” and “activation member,” as they are used herein, should not necessarily be limited to structure having the ability to plug the drain of the sink to prevent water from draining out of the sink. 
     While the batch-feed switch assembly  304  is described above as including the first and second magnets  324 ,  364  that repel each other when brought into close enough proximity to place the switch unit  310  in the on-position to activate the motor  180 , in some embodiments, the magnets  324 ,  364  and the switch mechanism  362  may be configured such that the magnets  324 ,  364  attract each other to place the switch unit  310  in the on-position to activate the motor  180 . 
     The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.