Food waste disposer interlock device

Abstract

An interlock device coupled to a magnetically activated switch when the interlock device is removably seated in a sink flange coupled to a food waste disposer, comprising: a base having interlock device magnets, a recessed seat having drain holes, a helical cam, a strainer basket adjoined to a rotatably mounted spindle having a handle adjoined thereto, opposing nubs, which travel within the helical cam, when the handle is twisted, a spindle mounted seal adapted to block flow through the interlock device, when the spindle mounted seal is releasably seated in the recessed seat, and allowing fluid to flow through the interlock device, when the spindle mounted seal is releasably unseated from the recessed seat; the interlock device activating the food waste disposer when the interlock device is removably seated in the sink flange and one of the interlock device magnets is adjacent a switch magnet of the magnetically activated switch.

Claims

1. A food waste disposer interlock device, comprising: a cylindrical housing having: an interior cylindrical wall and an exterior cylindrical wall, an upper cylindrical open chamber and a lower cylindrical open chamber having a first disk therebetween which is adjoined to said interior cylindrical wall, said first disk having: a lower central hub, an upper surface, a first bore having an upper edge, a lower edge, and an intermediate surface therebetween, a plurality of spokes adjoined to said lower central hub and said lower edge defining a plurality of drain holes therebetween, said lower central hub having a second bore and a cam having opposing grooves; opposing food waste disposer activation magnets used to activate a food waste disposer, when said opposing food waste disposer activation magnets are coupled to said food waste disposer; a strainer basket having: a second disk, a strainer contiguous with and surrounding said second disk and having a plurality of strainer holes, a lower shaft having lower opposing nubs, an upper handle fastened to said lower shaft and said second disk, a stepped disk shaped seal fastened to said lower shaft beneath said second disk,  said stepped disk shaped seal having an upper disk shaped seal portion, a lower disk shaped seal portion, and a central disk shaped seal portion therebetween extending outwardly beyond said upper disk shaped seal portion and said lower disk shaped seal portion,  said stepped disk shaped seal adapted to seat on said upper surface and said intermediate surface,  said lower opposing nubs travelling within said opposing grooves and having a top of travel, a bottom of travel, and an intermediate position, when said upper handle is rotated,  said stepped disk shaped seal lowered, compressed, and  sandwiched between said first disk and said second disk when said lower opposing nubs are rotated to said bottom of travel, which prevents fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device,  said stepped disk shaped seal raised above said first disk when said lower opposing nubs are rotated to said top of travel, which allows fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device,  said stepped disk shaped seal raised above said first disk when said lower opposing nubs are rotated to said intermediate position, which allows partial fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device.

2. The interlock device according to claim 1, wherein: said cam comprises a locking helical cam, said opposing grooves comprise opposing helical grooves.

3. The interlock device according to claim 1, wherein: said strainer comprises an arcuate shaped strainer, said plurality of strainer holes comprises a plurality of radial strainer holes.

4. A food waste disposer interlock device, comprising: a cylindrical housing having: an interior cylindrical wall and an exterior cylindrical wall, an upper cylindrical open chamber and a lower cylindrical open chamber having a first disk therebetween which is adjoined to said interior cylindrical wall, said first disk having: a lower central hub, an upper surface, a first bore having an upper edge, a lower edge, and an intermediate surface therebetween, a plurality of drain holes, said lower central hub having a second bore and a cam having opposing grooves; opposing food waste disposer activation magnets used to activate a food waste disposer, when said opposing food waste disposer activation magnets are coupled to said food waste disposer; a strainer basket having: a second disk, a strainer contiguous with and surrounding said second disk and having a plurality of strainer holes, a lower shaft having opposing nubs, an upper handle fastened to said lower shaft and said second disk, a stepped disk shaped seal fastened to said lower shaft beneath said second disk,  said stepped disk shaped seal having an upper disk shaped seal portion, a lower disk shaped seal portion, and a central disk shaped seal portion therebetween extending outwardly beyond said upper disk shaped seal portion and said lower disk shaped seal portion,  said stepped disk shaped seal adapted to seat on said upper surface and said intermediate surface,  said opposing nubs travelling within said opposing grooves and having a top of travel, a bottom of travel, and an intermediate position, when said upper handle is rotated,  said stepped disk shaped seal lowered, compressed, and  sandwiched between said first disk and said second disk when said opposing nubs are rotated to said bottom of travel, which prevents fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device,  said stepped disk shaped seal raised above said first disk when said opposing nubs are rotated to said top of travel, which allows fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device,  said stepped disk shaped seal raised above said first disk when said opposing nubs are rotated to said intermediate position, which allows partial fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device.

5. The interlock device according to claim 4, wherein: said cam comprises a helical cam, said opposing grooves comprise opposing helical grooves.

6. The interlock device according to claim 4, wherein: said first disk has: a plurality of spokes adjoined to said lower central hub and said lower edge defining said plurality of drain holes therebetween.

7. A food waste disposer interlock device, comprising: a cylindrical housing having: an interior cylindrical wall and an exterior cylindrical wall, an upper cylindrical open chamber and a lower cylindrical open chamber having a first disk therebetween which is adjoined to said interior cylindrical wall, said first disk having: a lower central hub, an upper surface, a first bore having an upper edge, a lower edge, and an intermediate surface therebetween, a plurality of drain holes, said lower central hub having a second bore and a cam having at least one groove; at least one food waste disposer activation magnet used to activate a food waste disposer, when said at least one food waste disposer activation magnet is coupled to said food waste disposer; a strainer basket having: a second disk, a strainer contiguous with and surrounding said second disk and having a plurality of strainer holes, a lower shaft having at least one nub, an upper handle fastened to said lower shaft and said second disk, a stepped disk shaped seal fastened to said lower shaft beneath said second disk,  said stepped disk shaped seal having an upper disk shaped seal portion, a lower disk shaped seal portion, and a central disk shaped seal portion therebetween extending outwardly beyond said upper disk shaped seal portion and said lower disk shaped seal portion,  said stepped disk shaped seal adapted to seat on said upper surface and said intermediate surface,  said at least one nub travelling within said at least one groove and having a top of travel, a bottom of travel, and an intermediate position, when said upper handle is rotated,  said stepped disk shaped seal lowered, compressed, and  sandwiched between said first disk and said second disk when said at least one nub is rotated to said bottom of travel, which prevents fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device,  said stepped disk shaped seal raised above said first disk when said at least one nub is rotated to said top of travel, which allows fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device,  said stepped disk shaped seal raised above said first disk when said at least one nub is rotated to said intermediate position, which allows partial fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device.

8. The interlock device according to claim 7, wherein: said cam comprises a helical cam, said at least one groove comprises at least one helical groove.

9. The interlock device according to claim 7, wherein: said first disk has: a plurality of spokes adjoined to said lower central hub and said lower edge defining said plurality of drain holes therebetween.

10. The interlock device according to claim 7, wherein: said at least one food waste disposer activation magnet comprises at least one arcuate shaped food waste disposer activation magnet.

11. A food waste disposer interlock device, comprising: a cylindrical housing having: an interior cylindrical wall and an exterior cylindrical wall, an upper cylindrical open chamber and a lower cylindrical open chamber having a partition therebetween which is adjoined to said interior cylindrical wall, said partition having: a lower central hub, an upper surface, a first bore having an upper edge, a lower edge, and an intermediate surface therebetween, a plurality of spokes adjoined to said lower central hub and said lower edge defining a plurality of drain holes therebetween, said lower central hub having a second bore and a cam having opposing grooves; opposing food waste disposer activation magnets used to activate a food waste disposer, when said opposing food waste disposer activation magnets are coupled to said food waste disposer; a strainer basket having: a disk, a strainer contiguous with and surrounding said disk and having a plurality of strainer holes, a lower shaft having lower opposing nubs, an upper handle fastened to said lower shaft and said disk, a stepped disk shaped seal fastened to said lower shaft beneath said disk,  said stepped disk shaped seal having an upper disk shaped seal portion, a lower disk shaped seal portion, and a central disk shaped seal portion therebetween extending outwardly beyond said upper disk shaped seal portion and said lower disk shaped seal portion,  said stepped disk shaped seal adapted to seat on said upper surface and said intermediate surface,  said lower opposing nubs travelling within said opposing grooves and having a top of travel, a bottom of travel, and an intermediate position, when said upper handle is rotated,  said stepped disk shaped seal lowered, compressed, and  sandwiched between said partition and said disk when said lower opposing nubs are rotated to said bottom of travel, which prevents fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device,  said stepped disk shaped seal raised above said partition when said lower opposing nubs are rotated to said top of travel, which allows fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device,  said stepped disk shaped seal raised above said partition when said lower opposing nubs are rotated to said intermediate position, which allows partial fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device.

12. The interlock device according to claim 11, wherein: said cam comprises a locking helical cam, said opposing grooves comprise opposing helical grooves.

13. The interlock device according to claim 11, wherein: said strainer comprises an arcuate shaped strainer, said plurality of strainer holes comprises a plurality of radial strainer holes.

14. A food waste disposer interlock device, comprising: a cylindrical housing having: an interior cylindrical wall and an exterior cylindrical wall, an upper cylindrical open chamber and a lower cylindrical open chamber having a partition therebetween which is adjoined to said interior cylindrical wall, said partition having: a lower central hub, an upper surface, a first bore having an upper edge, a lower edge, and an intermediate surface therebetween, a plurality of drain holes, said lower central hub having a second bore and a cam having opposing grooves; opposing food waste disposer activation magnets used to activate a food waste disposer, when said opposing food waste disposer activation magnets are coupled to said food waste disposer; a strainer basket having: a disk, a strainer contiguous with and surrounding said disk and having a plurality of strainer holes, a lower shaft having opposing nubs, an upper handle fastened to said lower shaft and said disk, a stepped disk shaped seal fastened to said lower shaft beneath said disk,  said stepped disk shaped seal having an upper disk shaped seal portion, a lower disk shaped seal portion, and a central disk shaped seal portion therebetween extending outwardly beyond said upper disk shaped seal portion and said lower disk shaped seal portion,  said stepped disk shaped seal adapted to seat on said upper surface and said intermediate surface,  said opposing nubs travelling within said opposing grooves and having a top of travel, a bottom of travel, and an intermediate position, when said upper handle is rotated,  said stepped disk shaped seal lowered, compressed, and  sandwiched between said partition and said disk when said opposing nubs are rotated to said bottom of travel, which prevents fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device,  said stepped disk shaped seal raised above said partition when said opposing nubs are rotated to said top of travel, which allows fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device,  said stepped disk shaped seal raised above said partition when said opposing nubs are rotated to said intermediate position, which allows partial fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device.

15. The interlock device according to claim 14, wherein: said cam comprises a helical cam, said opposing grooves comprise opposing helical grooves.

16. The interlock device according to claim 14, wherein: said partition has: a plurality of spokes adjoined to said lower central hub and said lower edge defining said plurality of drain holes therebetween.

17. A food waste disposer interlock device, comprising: a cylindrical housing having: an interior cylindrical wall and an exterior cylindrical wall, an upper cylindrical open chamber and a lower cylindrical open chamber having a partition therebetween which is adjoined to said interior cylindrical wall, said partition having: a lower central hub, an upper surface, a first bore having an upper edge, a lower edge, and an intermediate surface therebetween, a plurality of drain holes, said lower central hub having a second bore and a cam having at least one groove; at least one food waste disposer activation magnet used to activate a food waste disposer, when said at least one food waste disposer activation magnet is coupled to said food waste disposer; a strainer basket having: a disk, a strainer contiguous with and surrounding said disk and having a plurality of strainer holes, a lower shaft having at least one nub, an upper handle fastened to said lower shaft and said disk, a stepped disk shaped seal fastened to said lower shaft beneath said disk,  said stepped disk shaped seal having an upper disk shaped seal portion, a lower disk shaped seal portion, and a central disk shaped seal portion therebetween extending outwardly beyond said upper disk shaped seal portion and said lower disk shaped seal portion,  said stepped disk shaped seal adapted to seat on said upper surface and said intermediate surface,  said at least one nub travelling within said at least one groove and having a top of travel, a bottom of travel, and an intermediate position, when said upper handle is rotated,  said stepped disk shaped seal lowered, compressed, and  sandwiched between said partition and said disk when said at least one nub is rotated to said bottom of travel, which prevents fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device,  said stepped disk shaped seal raised above said partition when said at least one nub is rotated to said top of travel, which allows fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device,  said stepped disk shaped seal raised above said partition when said at least one nub is rotated to said intermediate position, which allows partial fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device.

18. The interlock device according to claim 17, wherein: said cam comprises a helical cam, said at least one groove comprises at least one helical groove.

19. The interlock device according to claim 17, wherein: said partition has: a plurality of spokes adjoined to said lower central hub and said lower edge defining said plurality of drain holes therebetween.

20. The interlock device according to claim 17, wherein: said at least one food waste disposer activation magnet comprises at least one arcuate shaped food waste disposer activation magnet.

Description

DRAWINGS

(1) These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

(2) FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of components of an interlock assembly, comprising an interlock device, a magnetically activated switch, and an electric circuit box, constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing a food waste disposer, a flange mounted within a food waste disposer sink mount, and a cutaway view of a sink that the food waste disposer may be mounted to;

(3) FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the interlock device and the magnetically activated switch of the interlock assembly of FIG. 1, showing the interlock device seated in the flange and showing the sink as a cutaway view;

(4) FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the food waste disposer of FIG. 1, showing the magnetically activated switch fastened to the food waste disposer sink mount and showing the sink as a cutaway view;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective combined partial section and cutaway view of the food waste disposer of FIG. 1, showing the magnetically activated switch fastened to the food waste disposer sink mount and the interlock device seated in the flange;

(6) FIG. 5 is a side cross section view of the food waste disposer of FIG. 1, showing the magnetically activated switch fastened to the food waste disposer sink mount and the interlock device seated in the flange;

(7) FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the interlock assembly of FIG. 1, comprising the interlock device, the magnetically activated switch, and the electric circuit box

(8) FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of components of the interlock assembly of FIG. 1, comprising the interlock device and the magnetically activated switch adjacent one another, showing the magnetically activated switch as a cutaway view;

(9) FIG. 8 is a top perspective combined partial section and cutaway view of components of the interlock assembly of FIG. 1, comprising the interlock device and the magnetically activated switch, showing the interlock device in a food waste disposer activation position, and showing the magnetically activated switch as a cutaway view;

(10) FIG. 9 is a top partial section view of components of the interlock assembly of FIG. 1, comprising the interlock device and the magnetically activated switch, showing the interlock device in a food waste disposer activation position;

(11) FIG. 10 is a top partial section view of components of interlock assembly of FIG. 1, comprising the interlock device and the magnetically activated switch, showing the interlock device in a position other than a food waste disposer activation position;

(12) FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of the interlock device;

(13) FIG. 12 is a combined partial section and cutaway view of the interlock device;

(14) FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of the interlock device showing nubs of a spindle of the interlock device in a lowered position;

(15) FIG. 14 is a bottom perspective view of the interlock device showing a nub of the spindle of the interlock device in a raised position;

(16) FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the interlock device;

(17) FIG. 16 is a side cross section view of the interlock device of FIG. 1, showing a spindle seal of the interlock device in a raised and open position allowing water and wastewater to flow through the interlock device;

(18) FIG. 17 is another side cross section view of the interlock device, showing the spindle seal of the interlock device in a raised and open position, which allows water and wastewater to flow through the interlock device;

(19) FIG. 18 is another side cross section view of the interlock device, showing the spindle seal of the interlock device in a raised, locked, and open position, which allows water and wastewater to flow through the interlock device;

(20) FIG. 19 is a side cross section view of the interlock device of FIG. 1, showing the spindle seal of the interlock device in a lowered and closed position blocking water and wastewater from flowing through the interlock device;

(21) FIG. 20 is another side cross section view of the interlock device, showing the spindle seal of the interlock device in a lowered and closed position, which blocks water and wastewater from flowing through the interlock device;

(22) FIG. 21 is an exploded perspective view of the interlock device;

(23) FIG. 22 is an exploded side view of the interlock device;

(24) FIG. 23 a top cross section view of the magnetically activated switch of FIG. 1;

(25) FIG. 24 is a perspective view of an electric circuit box for controlling and supplying power to the magnetically activated switch and the food waste disposer;

(26) FIG. 25 is a schematic representation of the electrical circuitry of the electric circuit box of FIG. 24;

(27) FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view of components of the interlock assembly of FIG. 1, comprising the interlock device and the magnetically activated switch in more detail, also showing the flange and food waste disposer sink mount;

(28) FIG. 27 is a perspective view of components of the interlock assembly of FIG. 1, comprising the interlock device seated within the flange and the magnetically activated switch fastened to the food waste disposer sink mount, showing the top of the food waste disposer;

(29) FIG. 28 is an exploded perspective view of components of the interlock assembly of FIG. 1, comprising the interlock device and the magnetically activated switch, and showing the flange of the food waste disposer mounted within the food waste disposer sink mount; and

(30) FIG. 29 is an exploded perspective view of the food waste disposer sink mount, also showing the flange.

DESCRIPTION

(31) The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1-29 of the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numbers.

(32) FIGS. 1-6 show components of an interlock assembly 10, comprising an interlock device 12, a magnetically activated switch 14, and an electric circuit box 16, constructed in accordance with the present invention, which may be used to convert a food waste disposer 18 from a continuous feed food waste disposer into a batch feed food waste disposer.

(33) The food waste disposer 18 is typically fastened to a sink 20 with a food waste disposer sink mount 22, which has a flange 24, which may be used to removably and matingly receive and seat the interlock device 12 therein. The food waste disposer sink mount 22 is often a three hole mount for passing bolts 26 therethrough and fastening the food waste disposer 18 to the sink 20, although other suitable fastening arrangements may be used.

(34) In more detail, an upper clamp ring 25 fits around the circumference of the flange 24 underneath the sink 20 and clamps the flange 24 securely to the sink 20 using three of the bolts 26. The bolts 26 are removably threaded through a lower mounting ring 27, which securely mounts the food waste disposer 18 beneath the flange 24. The lower mounting ring 27 is fastened to the flange 24 by a snap ring 29.

(35) The magnetically activated switch 14 is fastened to the food waste disposer sink mount 22 adjacent the flange 24, using two of the bolts 26, although other suitable fastening arrangements may be used.

(36) The electric circuit box 16, which is connected to an external power source, supplies electrical power to the magnetically activated switch 14. The food waste disposer 18 is activated and electrical power is supplied to the food waste disposer 18 by the magnetically activated switch 14, when the magnetically activated switch 14 is activated by the interlock device 12.

(37) The interlock device 12 must be seated in the flange 24 and the interlock device 12 must be in a food waste disposer activation position for the food waste disposer 18 to be activated.

(38) If the interlock device 12 is not seated in the flange 24 or if the interlock device is withdrawn from the flange 24, the food waste disposer 18 will not be activated. Likewise, the food waste disposer 18 will turn off, if the food waste disposer 18 is already turned on and the interlock device 12 ceases to be seated in the flange 24 or if the interlock device is withdrawn from the flange 24.

(39) If the interlock device 12 is seated in the flange 24 and if the interlock device 12 is in a food waste disposer activation position, the food waste disposer 18 will be activated and electric power will be supplied to the food waste disposer by the electric circuit box 16.

(40) The interlock assembly 10 may be used to retrofit an existing food waste disposer 18 and convert a continuous feed food waste disposer into a batch feed food waste disposer. Alternatively, the interlock assembly 10 may be used in a new batch feed waste disposer installation. The interlock assembly 10 may optionally be a kit.

(41) FIGS. 7-10 show the interlock device 12 and the magnetically activated switch 14 adjacent one another and, in particular, FIGS. 9 and 10 show the interlock device 12 in a food waste disposer activation position and alternatively in a position other than a food waste disposer activation position, respectively.

(42) The magnetically activated switch 14 has a magnetically activated switch magnet 28 seated in a magnetically activated switch magnet housing 30 that is pivotally connected to magnetically activated switch housing 32. The magnetically activated switch 14 has a first linkage 34 that is pivotally coupled to the magnetically activated switch magnet housing 30 and a second linkage 36 that is pivotally coupled to the first linkage 34. The second linkage 36 is also pivotally connected to the magnetically activated switch housing 32.

(43) The second linkage 36 has a lever arm 38, which presses against spring loaded switch activator button 40 of spring activated switch 42 and activates the food waste disposer 18 by supplying electric power to the food waste disposer 18, when the magnetically activated switch magnet 28 is drawn to one of the interlock device magnets 44 of the interlock device 12.

(44) The magnetically activated switch magnet 28 is drawn to one of the interlock device magnets 44, when the interlock device 12 is seated in the flange 24 and one of the interlock device magnets 44 is adjacent the magnetically activated switch magnet 28.

(45) When the interlock device 12 is seated in the flange 24 and the interlock device 12 is in a food waste disposer activation position, the magnetically activated switch magnet 28 is adjacent one of the interlock device magnets 44 of the interlock device 12, and the magnetically activated switch magnet 28 is drawn to one of the interlock device magnets 44, which activates the food waste disposer 18.

(46) Alternatively, when the interlock device 12 is not in a food waste disposer activation position, the magnetically activated switch magnet 28 is not adjacent one of the interlock device magnets 44 of the interlock device 12, and the spring activated switch 42 is switched off. When the spring activated switch 42 is switched off, the food waste disposer 18 is not activated or is deactivated if already turned on.

(47) A mounting spring 31 is used to hold the magnetically activated switch housing 32 in place at one of the bolts 26.

(48) FIGS. 11-22 show the interlock device 12 and, in particular, FIGS. 16-18 show a substantially disk shaped spindle mounted seal 46 of the interlock device 12 in a raised and open position, which allows water and wastewater to flow through the interlock device 12, and FIGS. 19 and 20 show the substantially disk shaped spindle mounted seal 46 of the interlock device 12 in a lowered and closed position, which blocks water and wastewater from flowing through the interlock device.

(49) The interlock device 12 may be removably, matingly, and rotatably seated in and unseated from the flange 24. The interlock device 12 may, thus, be removed from the flange 24, in order to remove, for example, any collected debris from the interlock device 12, after which, the interlock device 12 can be reseated in the flange 24.

(50) The interlock device 12 is substantially disk shaped and has a substantially disk shaped base 48 having: an upper cylindrical outer collar 50, a lower cylindrical outer collar 52, and an outer groove 54 therebetween having a flange seal 56, which creates a seal between the interlock device 12 and the flange 24, an upper substantially centrally disposed recessed seat 58 having a substantially centrally disposed bore 60 therethrough and a plurality of base holes 62 surrounding the substantially centrally disposed bore 60, opposing interlock device magnets 44 adjacent periphery 62 of the substantially disk shaped base 48; a lower substantially centrally disposed tubular helical cam 64 adjoined to the substantially disk shaped base 48 having: opposing longitudinal helical grooves 66 having upper bayonet locks 68, the substantially centrally disposed bore 60 extending through the lower substantially centrally disposed tubular helical cam 64, an upper strainer basket 70 having: a plurality of upper strainer basket drain holes 72, a lower substantially centrally disposed spindle 74 rotatably mounted through the substantially disk shaped base 48 and the substantially centrally disposed bore 60, the lower substantially centrally disposed spindle 74 adjoined to the upper strainer basket 70 and having an upper handle 76 adjoined thereto, the lower substantially centrally disposed spindle 74 having opposing nubs 78, which travel within the opposing longitudinal helical grooves 66, which act as guides for the opposing nubs 78, when the upper handle 76 is rotatably twisted, a substantially disk shaped spindle mounted seal 46 adapted to block any fluid, water, waste, or wastewater from flowing through the interlock device, when: the substantially disk shaped spindle mounted seal 46 is releasably seated in the upper substantially centrally disposed recessed seat 58, when the substantially disk shaped spindle mounted seal 46 is lowered into the upper substantially centrally disposed recessed seat 58 by rotatably twisting the upper handle 76, forcing the opposing nubs 78 to travel downwards to the bottom 82 of the opposing longitudinal helical grooves 66 and block any fluid, water, waste, or wastewater from flowing through the interlock device 12, the substantially disk shaped spindle mounted seal 46 allowing fluid, water, or wastewater to flow through the interlock device 12, when: the substantially disk shaped spindle mounted seal 46 is releasably unseated from the upper substantially centrally disposed recessed seat 58, when the substantially disk shaped spindle mounted seal 46 is raised from the upper substantially centrally disposed recessed seat 58 by rotatably twisting the upper handle 76, forcing the opposing nubs 78 to travel upwards from the bottom 82 of the opposing longitudinal helical grooves 66 and allow fluid, water, or wastewater to flow through the interlock device 12; a magnetically activated switch 14 coupled to the flange 24, the magnetically activated switch 14 having a magnetically activated switch magnet 28, the magnetically activated switch 14 activating the food waste disposer 18 when the interlock device 12 is seated in the flange 24 in a food waste disposer activation position, which exists when one of the opposing interlock device magnets 44 is adjacent the magnetically activated switch magnet 28, the magnetically activated switch 14 deactivating the food waste disposer 18 when the interlock device 12 is seated in the flange 24 in a position other than the food waste disposer activation position, which exists when one of the opposing interlock device magnets 44 is not adjacent the magnetically activated switch magnet 28, the magnetically activated switch 14 deactivating the food waste disposer 18 when the interlock device 12 is unseated or removed from the flange 24.

(51) The opposing interlock device magnets 44 are preferably arcuate shaped or C-shaped and are preferably embedded in the upper cylindrical outer collar 50 of the substantially disk shaped base 48 of the interlock device 12, although other suitable shaped magnets and locations adjacent the periphery of the upper cylindrical outer collar 50 or adjacent the periphery of the disk shaped base 48 may be used.

(52) FIG. 23 shows the magnetically activated switch 14. Now, again the magnetically activated switch 14 has the magnetically activated switch magnet 28 seated in the magnetically activated switch magnet housing 30 that is pivotally connected to the magnetically activated switch housing 32. The magnetically activated switch 14 has the first linkage 34 that is pivotally coupled to the magnetically activated switch magnet housing 30 and the second linkage 36 that is pivotally coupled to the first linkage 34. The second linkage 36 is also pivotally connected to the magnetically activated switch housing 32.

(53) The second linkage 36 has the lever arm 38, which presses against the spring loaded switch activator button 40 of the spring activated switch 42 and activates the food waste disposer 18 by supplying electric power to the food waste disposer 18, when the magnetically activated switch magnet 28 is drawn to one of the opposing interlock device magnets 44 of the interlock device 12.

(54) The magnetically activated switch magnet 28 is drawn to one of the opposing interlock device magnets 44, when the interlock device 12 is seated in the flange 24 and one of the interlock device magnets 44 is adjacent the magnetically activated switch magnet 28.

(55) When the interlock device 12 is seated in the flange 24 and the interlock device 12 is in a food waste disposer activation position, the magnetically activated switch magnet 28 is adjacent one of the opposing interlock device magnets 44 of the interlock device 12, and the magnetically activated switch magnet 28 is drawn to one of the opposing interlock device magnets 44, which activates the food waste disposer 18.

(56) Alternatively, when the interlock device 12 is not in a food waste disposer activation position, the magnetically activated switch magnet 28 is not adjacent one of the opposing interlock device magnets 44 of the interlock device 12, and the spring activated switch 42 is switched off. When the spring activated switch 42 is switched off, the food waste disposer 18 is not activated or is deactivated if already turned on.

(57) The food waste disposer sink mount 22 is often a three hole mount for passing the bolts 26 therethrough and fastening the food waste disposer 18 to the sink 20, although other suitable fastening arrangements may be used.

(58) The magnetically activated switch 14 is fastened to the food waste disposer sink mount 22 adjacent the flange 24, using two of the bolts 26 that are used to fasten the food waste disposer 18 to the sink 20, using the food waste disposer sink mount 22.

(59) FIGS. 24 and 25 show the electric circuit box 16 for controlling and supplying electric power to the magnetically activated 14 and the food waste disposer 18 and the electric circuitry of the electric circuit box 16, respectively. Electric power cable 88, which is connected to an external electric power source, is used to supply electric power to the electric circuit box 16. A cable 94 from the magnetically activated switch 14 supplies electric power to the receptacle 92 of the electric circuit box 16, when the magnetically activated switch 14 is activated. Food waste disposer cable 90, which plugs in to the receptacle 92 of the electric circuit box 16, is used to supply electric power from the electric circuit box 16 to the food waste disposer 18, when the magnetically activated switch 14 is activated.

(60) FIG. 26 shows an exploded perspective view of components of the interlock assembly 10, comprising the interlock device 12 and the magnetically activated switch 14 in more detail, also showing the flange 24 and food waste disposer sink mount 22.

(61) FIG. 27 shows components of the interlock assembly 10, comprising the interlock device 12 seated within the flange 24 and the magnetically activated switch 14 fastened to the food waste disposer sink mount 22, showing the top of the food waste disposer 18.

(62) FIG. 28 shows components of the interlock assembly 10, comprising the interlock device 12 and the magnetically activated switch 14, and showing the flange 24 of the food waste disposer 18 mounted within the food waste disposer sink mount 22.

(63) FIG. 29 shows the food waste disposer sink mount 22, showing the flange 24 and the bolts 26.

(64) Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.