Patent ID: 6953526

Claim:
A filter assembly for filtering water from an external source, the filter assembly including a non-metallic manifold assembly mountable to an appliance and being in fluid communication with the external source and a cartridge assembly, the cartridge assembly being replaceably fluidly couplable to the manifold assembly, the filter assembly further comprising: at least one valve disposed in the manifold assembly operable to affect the rate of water flow from the external source having a fluted shaft, the at least one valve having a valve head coupled to the fluted shaft, the fluted shaft having a plurality of flutes being defined between a plurality of spaced apart flute walls, the flutes defining flow passages around the valve and extending in a first direction from the valve head, a single valve seat, and a compressible spring acting on the head and disposed relative to the valve head in a second direction, the second direction being opposed to the first direction to bias the valve in a closed disposition, the valve being biased in a closed disposition by the spring.