# US 8,740,115 B1 · Sink disposal and metal sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,740,115 B1 - Document ID: US8740115B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/843,231 - Filed: 2013-03-15 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-23 - Assignees: Samelin Innovations, LLC - Applicants: Samelin Innovations, LLC - Inventors: Samantha Erica Melin; Thomas Eric Melin; Juan Carlos Perez; Raeshon Lamont McNeil; Michael Morgan Starkey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8740115B1 ## CPC - B02C 23/04: Safety devices (in general F16P {; for rotary mills B02C13/31}) - B02C 18/0084: {specially adapted for disintegrating garbage, waste or sewage} - B02C 18/0092: {for waste water or for garbage} - B02C 25/00: Control arrangements specially adapted for crushing or disintegrating - E03C 1/2665: {Disintegrating apparatus specially adapted for installation in waste pipes or outlets (disintegrating apparatus per se B02C)} - B02C: CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING IN GENERAL; MILLING GRAIN ({household tools and machines for pulverising foodstuffs, e.g. coffee and spice mills A47J42/00; pharmaceutical mortars A61J3/02; mechanical processing of refuse and garbage B03B9/06; dressing mould materials by grinding B22C5/04}; obtaining metallic powder by crushing, grinding or milling B22F9/04; {recovery of plastics by disintegrating B29B17/00; crushing raw materials in starch making C08B30/02; beaters for papermaking D21D1/02; crushing devices specially for transport in mines E21F13/002; slag crushing devices F23J1/00; fuel milling devices in combustion apparatus F23K1/00; household devices for crushing coal F24B15/02; ice disintegrating devices F25C5/02}) - E03C: DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER (not connected to either water-supply main or to waste pipe A47K; devices of the kind used in the ground E03B, E03F); SINKS ## Abstract An apparatus includes: a disposal unit; a control unit configured to stop operation of the disposal unit; and a metal detector coil and associated circuitry, the metal detector coil located such that waste passing into the disposal unit for shredding passes through the metal detector coil. The control unit is triggered to stop operation of the disposal unit upon the detection of metal passing through the metal detector coil. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sink disposal system, comprising (a) a sink; (b) a disposal unit mounted below the sink, the disposal unit comprising a shredding mechanism for shredding waste received from the sink that enters into a shredding area of the disposal unit; (c) a fluid passageway that extends from a drain of the sink downwardly to the disposal unit for passage of waste from the sink to the disposal unit; (d) a control unit operatively connected to the disposal unit and configured to inhibit shredding operation of the disposal unit; and (e) a metal detector sensor and associated circuitry, the metal detector sensor being located adjacent the fluid passageway extending from the drain of the sink to the disposal unit such that the metal detector sensor monitors waste for shredding by the shredding mechanism of the disposal unit as it passes through the fluid passageway extending from the drain of the sink to the disposal unit before it arrives at the disposal unit; (f) wherein the control unit is operatively connected to the disposal unit and to the circuitry associated with the metal detector sensor such that the control unit inhibits shredding operation of the disposal unit upon the detection of metal passing by the metal detector sensor, including, (i) stopping shredding operation of the disposal unit when running, upon detection of metal passing the metal detector sensor, and (ii) preventing shredding operation of the disposal unit from starting after detection of metal passing the metal detector sensor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sink disposal system apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a magnetic coupling switch with associated control circuitry. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sink disposal system apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit turns off power to the disposal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sink disposal system apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit causes active braking of a shredding mechanism of the disposal such that shredding operation of the disposal stops faster than if power were merely turned off to the disposal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sink disposal system apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a braking component attached to a bottom of the disposal unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The sink disposal system apparatus of claim 5, wherein the control unit causes active braking of a shredding mechanism of the disposal unit by wirelessly transmitting a control signal to the braking component attached to the bottom of the disposal unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sink disposal system apparatus of claim 1, wherein the metal detector sensor is located at an upper portion of a housing of the disposal unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sink disposal system apparatus of claim 1, wherein the metal detector sensor is located at a neck of the disposal unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sink disposal system apparatus of claim 1, wherein the metal detector sensor is integrated into a housing of the disposal unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sink disposal system apparatus of claim 1, wherein the metal detector circuitry is housed in the control unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The sink disposal system apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an indicator for alerting a user when the control unit is inhibiting shredding operation of the disposal unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The sink disposal system apparatus of claim 11, wherein the indicator comprises a warning light; a buzzer; a speaker; a vibrating component that is configured to provide a vibratory alert; or combination thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The sink disposal system apparatus of claim 11, wherein the indicator is wirelessly activated by the control unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The sink disposal system apparatus of claim 13, wherein the indicator is a self-contained wireless device that includes a wireless receiver for wirelessly triggering, by the control unit, of an alert provided by the indicator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The sink disposal system apparatus of claim 13, wherein the indicator is configured to be mounted to a base of a faucet or a neck of a faucet of a sink. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The sink disposal system apparatus of claim 15, wherein the indicator is configured to slip onto a faucet of a sink. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The sink disposal system apparatus of claim 13, wherein the indicator is configured to be placed within a drain recess of a sink inline with waste traveling from the sink toward the disposal unit such that waste passes through an opening defined by the indicator. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The sink disposal system apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electromagnet arranged and located below the metal detector sensor so as to attract and trap, when energized, metal objects passing the metal detector sensor, and wherein the control unit energizes the electromagnet upon detection of metal passing the metal detector sensor. ### Claim 19 A sink disposal system, comprising (a) a sink; (b) a disposal unit mounted below the sink, the disposal unit comprising a shredding mechanism for shredding waste received from the sink that enters into a shredding area of the disposal unit; (c) a fluid passageway that downwardly extends from a drain of the sink to the disposal unit for passage of waste from the sink to the disposal unit; (d) a control unit operatively connected to the disposal unit; and (e) a metal detector sensor and associated circuitry, the metal detector sensor being located adjacent the fluid passageway extending from the drain of the sink to the disposal unit such that the metal detector sensor monitors waste for shredding by the shredding mechanism of the disposal unit as it passes through the fluid passageway extending from the drain of the sink to the disposal unit prior to entering the shredding area; (f) wherein the control unit is operatively connected to the disposal unit and to the circuitry associated with the metal detector sensor such that the control unit inhibits shredding operation of the disposal unit upon the detection of metal passing in proximity to the metal detector sensor, including, (i) stopping shredding operation of the disposal unit when running, upon detection of metal passing in proximity to the metal detector sensor, and (ii) preventing shredding operation of the disposal unit from starting after detection of metal passing in proximity to the metal detector sensor. ### Claim 20 A sink disposal system, comprising (a) a sink; (b) a disposal unit mounted below the sink, the disposal unit comprising a shredding mechanism for shredding waste received from the sink that enters into a shredding area of the disposal unit; (c) a fluid passageway that extends downwardly from a drain of the sink to the disposal unit for passage of waste from the sink to the disposal unit (d) a control unit operatively connected to the disposal unit for inhibiting shredding operation of the disposal unit; and (e) a metal detector sensor and associated circuitry, the metal detector sensor being located adjacent the fluid passageway extending from the drain of the sink to the disposal unit such that the metal detector sensor monitors waste for shredding by the shredding mechanism of the disposal unit as it passes through the fluid passageway extending from the drain of the sink to the disposal unit before entering the shredding area; (f) wherein the control unit is operatively connected to the disposal unit and to the circuitry associated with the metal detector sensor such that the control unit inhibits shredding operation of the disposal unit upon the detection of metal passing the metal detector sensor, including, (i) stopping shredding operation of the disposal unit upon detection of metal passing the metal detector sensor, and (ii) preventing shredding operation of the disposal unit from starting after detection of metal passing the metal detector sensor.