Food waste disposer throat baffle apparatus and method

A baffle for implementation in connection with a food waste disposer, the baffle comprising:

• a rim portion substantially circumferentially extending around a central axis of the baffle;
• a plurality of flaps;
• a plurality of living hinges, wherein the respective living hinges respectively link the respective flaps to the rim portion such that the rim portion, living hinges, and flaps constitute a single integrally-formed structure;
• wherein the respective living hinges permit the respective flaps to be rotatable about respective axes that respectively are substantially tangent to respective locations along or proximate to the rim portion, so that the respective flaps can be rotated to respective closed positions, and
• wherein either the living hinges or at least one additional component tend to cause the respective flaps to remain at the respective closed positions when already at the respective closed positions, or to return to the respective closed positions when not at the respective closed positions.

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 substantially circumferentially extending around a central axis of the baffle, a plurality of flaps, and a plurality of living hinges that together constitute a single integrally-formed structure that is formed from a first material, 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 second 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 either the living hinges or at least one additional component tend to cause the respective flaps to remain at the respective closed positions when already at the respective closed positions, or to return to the respective closed positions when not at the respective closed positions.