System and method for assembling and/or operating control switch in relation to waste disposer and in relation to alternative electric power sources

A food waste disposer system comprising:

• a waste disposer including a housing and a start switch;
• and
• a power cord assembly for implementation in regard to the waste disposer, the power cord assembly comprising:
• a plug suitable for being coupled to a wall power outlet;
• a terminal cover;
• a power cord extending between the plug and a first surface of the terminal cover;
• and
• a start switch interface connector attached to a second surface of the terminal cover, wherein wires within the power cord are coupled to the start switch interface connector,
• wherein the start switch interface connector, power cord, terminal cover, and plug form an integrated assembly, and
• wherein the terminal cover is configured to be positioned along an exterior surface of the housing of the waste disposer so as to cover an orifice defined with that surface and so that the start switch interface connector extends at least partly into an interior within the housing and can be coupled to the start switch that is positioned within the housing,
• wherein each of a bottom housing portion of the housing and the switch module are configured to be capable of being coupled, at respectively a first time and a second time, to each of a terminal assembly by which the food waste disposer can receive power from a hardwired power link, and the power cord assembly by which the food waste disposer can receive power from a wall power outlet, respectively.

A method of implementing a first food waste disposer so as to be coupled to receive electric power, the method comprising:

• providing the first food waste disposer including a motor, a switch module coupled to the motor and operable to control a power flow to the motor, and a housing including a bottom housing portion and a top housing portion, wherein the switch module and motor are supported within an interior region within the housing;
• at a first time, coupling a power cord assembly to the first food waste disposer;
• and
• at a second time, coupling a terminal assembly to the first food waste disposer,
• wherein, when the power cord assembly is coupled to the switch module, the first food waste disposer can receive first power from a wall power outlet and, when the terminal assembly is coupled to the switch module, the first food waste disposer can receive second power from a hardwired power link,
• wherein each of the terminal assembly and the power cord assembly includes each of a respective start switch interface connector coupled to a respective terminal cover,
• wherein the coupling of the power cord assembly to the first food waste disposer includes first sliding the respective terminal cover of the power cord assembly in a first direction substantially along a surface of the bottom housing so that a plurality of connectors of the switch module are respectively coupled to a first plurality of complementary formations, respectively, of the respective start switch interface connector of the power cord assembly, and
• wherein the coupling of the terminal assembly to the first food waste disposer includes second sliding the respective terminal cover of the terminal assembly in the first direction substantially along the surface of the bottom housing so that the plurality of connectors of the switch module are respectively coupled to a second plurality of complementary formations, respectively, of the respective start switch interface connector of the terminal assembly.