Apparatus and method for mounting food waste disposer in relation to sink

A method of assembling a mounting system for use in coupling a food waste disposer to a sink, the method comprising:

• positioning a mounting flange component in relation to a sink flange component so that an orifice extending through, and defined at least in part by an inner edge of, the mounting flange component is proximate to a first end of an outer cylindrical surface of a tubular structure of the sink flange component;
• moving the mounting flange component relative to the tubular structure along a first axis along which the tubular structure extends, so that a first portion of the tubular structure including the first end can pass partly into or entirely through the orifice and the mounting flange component moves toward a second end of the outer cylindrical surface;
• rotating the mounting flange component relative to the tubular structure about the first axis so that a plurality of lugs extending from, and having respective tips proximate to or along the inner edge of, the mounting flange component respectively become rotationally aligned with a plurality of first protrusions extending radially outward from the outer cylindrical surface,
• wherein, as a consequence of the rotating of the mounting flange component relative to the tubular structure, the respective tips of the respective lugs are positioned between the first protrusions and the second end of the sink flange component, such that the mounting flange component is secured in relation to the sink flange component;
• positioning a baffle within an inner passageway formed within the tubular structure, wherein the tubular structure includes a plurality of second protrusions extending radially inward into the inner passageway from an inner cylindrical surface of the tubular structure toward the first axis;
• and
• mounting the baffle in relation to the tubular structure by way of contact between the baffle and the second protrusions.

A food waste disposer system comprising:

• a food waste disposer;
• a mounting assembly configured to allow for securing of the waste disposer system to a sink;
• and
• at least one coupling component linking the waste disposer with the mounting assembly, wherein the mounting assembly includes:
• a sink flange component having first and second ends and a tubular structure having an outer cylindrical surface, the tubular structure extending along a first axis between the first and second ends and including a plurality of first protrusions extending radially outward from the outer cylindrical surface, wherein the tubular structure includes a plurality of second protrusions extending radially inward from an inner cylindrical surface of the tubular structure toward the first axis;
• a mounting flange component having an inner edge defining at least in part an orifice extending through the mounting flange component and sized so that a first portion of the tubular structure including the second end can pass partly into or entirely through the orifice, the mounting flange component including a plurality of lugs having respective tips proximate to or along the inner edge;
• means for allowing the first protrusions to pass in relation to the mounting flange component when the mounting flange component is rotated about the first axis relative to the tubular structure so that the first protrusions proceed from a first status in which the sink flange component with the first protrusions is axially movable relative to the mounting flange component along the first axis to a second status in which respective tips of the respective lugs are positioned between the first protrusions and the first end of the sink flange component along the first axis such that the sink flange component is no longer axially movable relative to the mounting flange component along the first axis;
• and
• a baffle that can be positioned within an inner passageway formed within the tubular structure, wherein the baffle can be mounted in relation to the tubular structure by way of contact between the baffle and the second protrusions.