Food waste disposer throat baffle apparatus and method

A method of assembling a baffle that is for implementation in connection with a food waste disposer, the method comprising:

• providing a primary structure having a first structural portion and a ring structural portion, wherein the first structural portion includes a rim portion circumferentially extending around a central axis of the baffle and a plurality of flaps, wherein each of the flaps is at least indirectly supported by the rim portion, and wherein the ring structural portion is connected with or integrally formed with the first structural portion;
• and
• overmolding a secondary structure on the primary structure, wherein the secondary structure is formed from a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material, and wherein the secondary structure includes a plurality of interlocking features that facilitate coupling of the secondary structure in relation to the primary structure;
• wherein at least one additional component tends to cause the respective flaps to remain at respective closed positions or to return to the respective closed positions when not at the respective closed positions, and
• wherein the at least one additional component includes an elastic band component, and wherein each of the flaps includes a respective protrusion along a respective underside of the respective flap proximate a radially-outward portion of the respective flap, and wherein the elastic band component is positioned so as to extend circumferentially around the protrusions so as to apply respective forces to the respective flaps.