Layered sink baffle

Abstract

Sink assemblies and food waste disposers for installation under a sink, can include a baffle configured to be located in the sink drain. Such baffles of the present technology can include a first baffle above a second baffle. The first baffle layer can include a plurality of upper flaps and a plurality of gaps between the upper flaps. The plurality of upper flaps can be attached to the outer rim and spaced apart from each other such that one of the gaps is located between each set of two upper flaps. The second baffle layer can include a plurality of lower flaps, and the plurality of lower flaps can be circumferentially offset compared to the plurality of upper flaps such that a portion of each lower flap is directly beneath at least one of the gaps of the plurality of gaps between the upper flaps.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A layered sink baffle comprising:
 an outer rim that extends circumferentially about a central axis;   a first baffle layer, the first baffle layer including a plurality of upper flaps and a plurality of gaps between the upper flaps, wherein the plurality of upper flaps are attached to the outer rim and spaced apart from each other such that one of the gaps is located between each set of two upper flaps; and   a second baffle layer attached to the outer rim below the first baffle layer, the second baffle layer including a plurality of lower flaps, wherein the plurality of lower flaps are circumferentially offset compared to the plurality of upper flaps such that a portion of each lower flap is directly beneath at least one of the gaps of the plurality of gaps between the upper flaps.   
     
     
         2 . The layered sink baffle of  claim 1 , wherein each upper flap includes a first hinge end and a first radially inward end, the first hinge end being attached to the outer rim by a first hinge, wherein each upper flap extends radially inwardly from the first hinge toward the central axis to the first radially inward end. 
     
     
         3 . The layered sink baffle of  claim 2 , wherein each upper flap includes an anti-reverse stopper attached to the hinge end of the upper flap, wherein each anti-reverse stopper extends upwardly from the hinge end of the upper flap to which the anti-reverse stopper is attached, and wherein each anti-reverse stopper has a radially-outward end that is spaced apart from the outer rim when the flap to which the anti-reverse stopper is attached is in a resting position. 
     
     
         4 . The layered sink baffle of  claim 2 , wherein the first hinge end of each upper flap has a width that is greater than a width of the first radially inward end of the upper flap. 
     
     
         5 . The layered sink baffle of  claim 2 , wherein the first hinge end of each upper flap includes at least one upper flap notch that forms an opening configured to allow air and water to pass through the first baffle layer. 
     
     
         6 . The layered sink baffle of  claim 1 , wherein the second baffle layer includes an annular ring that is attached to the outer rim, and each of the lower flaps is attached to the annular ring. 
     
     
         7 . The layered sink baffle of  claim 6 , wherein the outer rim includes an inner annular groove, and the annular ring is attached to the outer rim by the annular ring being received within the inner annular groove. 
     
     
         8 . The layered sink baffle of  claim 6 , wherein the outer rim includes at least one locator slot and the annular ring includes at least one locator tab, and the at least one locator slot receives the at least one locator tab when the annular ring is received within the inner annular groove at a proper rotational position. 
     
     
         9 . The layered sink baffle of  claim 6 , wherein each lower flap includes a second hinge end and a second radially inward end, the second hinge end being attached to the annular ring by a second hinge, wherein each lower flap extends radially inwardly from the second hinge toward the central axis to the second radially inward end. 
     
     
         10 . The layered sink baffle of  claim 9 , wherein the second hinge end of each lower flap has a width that is greater than a width of the second radially inward end of the lower flap. 
     
     
         11 . The layered sink baffle of  claim 9 , wherein the second hinge end of each lower flap includes at least one lower flap notch that forms an opening configured to allow air and water to pass through the first baffle layer. 
     
     
         12 . A food waste disposer system comprising:
 a food waste disposer; and   a mounting assembly configured to attach the food waste disposer to a sink, the mounting assembly including a layered sink baffle, a sink flange, and an upper mounting flange;   wherein the sink flange is configured to be attached to the sink, and the upper mounting flange is configured to couple the food waste disposer to the sink flange; and   wherein the layered sink baffle includes:
 an outer rim that extends circumferentially about a central axis; 
 a first baffle layer, the first baffle layer including a plurality of upper flaps and a plurality of gaps between the upper flaps, wherein the plurality of upper flaps are attached to the outer rim and spaced apart from each other such that one of the gaps is located between each set of two upper flaps; and 
 a second baffle layer attached to the outer rim below the first baffle layer, the second baffle layer including a plurality of lower flaps, wherein a plurality of lower flaps are circumferentially offset compared to the plurality of upper flaps such that a portion of each lower flap is directly beneath at least one of the gaps of the plurality of gaps between the upper flaps. 
   
     
     
         13 . The food waste disposer system of  claim 12 , wherein each upper flap includes a first hinge end and a first radially inward end, the first hinge end being attached to the outer rim by a first hinge, wherein each upper flap extends radially inwardly from the first hinge toward the central axis to the first radially inward end. 
     
     
         14 . The food waste disposer system of  claim 12 , wherein the first hinge end of each upper flap includes at least one upper flap notch that forms an opening configured to allow air and water to pass through the first baffle layer. 
     
     
         15 . The food waste disposer system of  claim 12 , wherein the second baffle layer includes an annular ring that is attached to the outer rim, and each of the lower flaps is attached to the annular ring. 
     
     
         16 . The food waste disposer system of  claim 12 , wherein each lower flap includes a second hinge end and a second radially inward end, the second hinge end being attached to the annular ring by a second hinge, wherein each lower flap extends radially inwardly from the second hinge toward the central axis to the second radially inward end; and
 wherein the second hinge end of each lower flap includes at least one lower flap notch that forms an opening configured to allow air and water to pass through the first baffle layer.   
     
     
         17 . A method of manufacturing a layered sink baffle, the method comprising:
 forming an outer rim and first baffle layer;   forming a second baffle layer; and   attaching the second baffle layer to the outer rim.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein forming an outer rim and first baffle layer includes integrally molding the outer rim and first baffle layer. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein forming the second baffle layer includes molding the second baffle layer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the outer rim includes at least one locator slot;   the second baffle layer includes an annular ring, and the annular ring includes at least one locator tab; and   attaching the second baffle layer to the outer rim includes aligning the at least one locator tab on the annular ring to the at least one locator slot on the outer rim.