System and method for plugging waste disposer auxiliary port

Abstract

A plug for a dishwasher inlet of a food waste disposer is provided herein. The plug includes an exterior surface having first and second barrier wall portions that together at least partly define a curving indentation that extends both substantially axially and also extends circumferentially substantially ninety degrees. When the plug is supported within the inlet in a fully installed position in which the first protrusion extends into the indentation so as to be in contact with or proximate to an end of the indentation, then the plug is retained axially relative to the inlet.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A plug comprising:
 a main body having a first end and a second end, wherein the main body is substantially cylindrical in shape, and includes an exterior surface having a first barrier wall portion and a second barrier wall portion, wherein the first barrier wall portion and the second barrier wall portion together at least partly define a first curving indentation,   wherein the first curving indentation extends substantially axially from the second end toward the first end and wherein the first curving indentation extends circumferentially substantially ninety degrees between the second end and a first internal end of the first curving indentation.   
     
     
         2 . The plug of  claim 1 , wherein when the plug is rotated substantially ninety degrees in a first rotational direction from a fully installed position in a dishwasher inlet of a food waste disposer, then the plug is removable from the dishwasher inlet. 
     
     
         3 . The plug of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a spring extension including a tip portion, wherein the tip portion engages a block portion extending radially inwardly from an inner wall of the dishwasher inlet when the plug is in the fully installed position to inhibit the plug being rotated in the first rotational direction.   
     
     
         4 . The plug of  claim 3  wherein the spring extension is compressed in response to a torque being applied to the plug such that the tip portion passes by the block portion. 
     
     
         5 . The plug of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an outwardly-extending tab at the first end, the outwardly-extending tab being positioned adjacent to a radially extending rib of a dishwasher inlet of a food waste disposer such that when the plug is in the fully installed position in the dishwasher inlet, the outwardly-extending tab and radially-extending rib cooperate to prevent a rotation of the plug in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.   
     
     
         6 . The plug of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an O-ring extending circumferentially around the main body between the first and second ends,   wherein when the plug is in a fully installed position in a dishwasher inlet of a food waste disposer, a seal that extends fully around a circumference of the main body is formed along a junction between the O-ring and an inner wall of the dishwasher inlet.   
     
     
         7 . The plug of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the exterior surface of the main body has a third barrier wall portion, wherein the second barrier wall portion and the third barrier wall portion together at least partly define a second curving indentation,   wherein the second curving indentation extends substantially axially from the second end toward the first end, and wherein the second curving indentation extends circumferentially substantially ninety degrees between the second end and a second internal end of the first curving indentation, the second internal end being closer to the second end than the first internal end.   
     
     
         8 . The plug of  claim 1 , wherein the first curving indentation is substantially helical. 
     
     
         9 . The plug of  claim 1 , further comprising an hex key orifice formed at the first end and configured to receive a complementary wrench by which a torque is applied to the plug. 
     
     
         10 . The plug of  claim 9 , wherein the hex key orifice is defined in a lateral surface of the main body at the first end. 
     
     
         11 . A plug comprising:
 a main body having a first end and a second end, wherein the main body is substantially cylindrical in shape, and includes an exterior surface having a first barrier wall portion and a second barrier wall portion, wherein the first barrier wall portion and the second barrier wall portion together at least partly define a first curving indentation, the first curving indentation extending substantially axially from the second end toward the first end and extending circumferentially substantially ninety degrees between the second end and a first internal end of the first curving indentation; and   a spring extension including a tip portion engageable with a block portion to provide resistance to the plug being rotated in a first rotational direction,   wherein the plug is configured to engage with an auxiliary port of a food waste disposer such that the main body is supported within the auxiliary port in a fully installed position in which a first protrusion of the auxiliary port extends into the first curving indentation so as to be in contact with or proximate to the first internal end, and the main body is retained axially relative to a central axis of the auxiliary port by contact between the first protrusion and one or both of the first barrier wall portion and the second barrier wall portion.   
     
     
         12 . The plug of  claim 11 , wherein when the plug is rotated substantially ninety degrees away from the fully installed position in a first rotational direction, the main body is removable from the auxiliary port. 
     
     
         13 . The plug of  claim 11  wherein, in response to a torque being applied to the main body, the spring extension is compressed to allow rotation in the first rotational direction. 
     
     
         14 . The plug of  claim 11 , wherein the main body further includes an outwardly-extending tab at the first end, the outwardly-extending tab being engageable with a radially-extending rib of the auxiliary port, such that rotation in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction is inhibited. 
     
     
         15 . The plug of  claim 11 , further comprising an O-ring extending circumferentially around the main body between the first and second ends, wherein when the plug is in the fully installed position, a seal that extends fully around a circumference of the main body is formed along a junction between the O-ring and an inner wall of the auxiliary port. 
     
     
         16 . The plug of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the exterior surface of the plug has a third barrier wall portion, wherein the second barrier wall portion and the third barrier wall portion together at least partly define a second curving indentation, and the second curving indentation extends substantially axially from the second end toward the first end, and extends circumferentially substantially ninety degrees between the second end and a second internal end of the first curving indentation, the second internal end being closer to the second end than the first internal end.   
     
     
         17 . A method installing a plug in a food waste disposer, the method comprising:
 providing a plug with a main body having a first end and a second end, wherein the main body is substantially cylindrical in shape, and includes an exterior surface having a first barrier wall portion and a second barrier wall portion, the first barrier wall portion and the second barrier wall portion together at least partly define a first curving indentation which extends substantially axially from the second end toward the first end and extends circumferentially substantially ninety degrees between the second end and a first internal end of the first curving indentation;   inserting the plug into a channel defined by a substantially cylindrical inner wall of a dishwasher inlet of the food waste disposer, the inner wall including a first protrusion extending radially inwardly toward a central axis of the channel; and   rotating the plug by substantially ninety degrees in a first rotational direction   to attain a fully installed position relative to the dishwasher inlet upon contact between the first protrusion and one or both of the first barrier wall portion and the second barrier wall portion.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 sealing of the dishwasher inlet by the plug in the fully installed position, at least in part by an O-ring positioned circumferentially around the main body to be in contact with the inner wall.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising removing the plug from the dishwasher inlet by rotating the plug relative to the dishwasher inlet by substantially ninety degrees in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, and retracting the plug axially out of the channel. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising retaining the plug rotationally in the fully installed position by a tip portion of a locking spring of the plug engaging a block portion extending radially-inwardly from the inner wall.