Patent ID: 8556127

Claim:
An additive dispensing system for a refrigerator, comprising: a receptacle comprising a pump action device, said pump action device comprising a surface having an aperture disposed within said surface and an annular protrusion surrounding said aperture; and a disposable cartridge slidably mounted within the receptacle, said disposable cartridge comprising: a reservoir, a bladder disposed within said reservoir, said bladder containing an additive, an inlet check valve, and a diaphragm in cooperation with said inlet check valve to define a dose chamber in fluid communication with said bladder, said diaphragm comprising an additive outlet check valve in fluid communication with said dose chamber, wherein said additive outlet check valve includes a pair of sealing surfaces, wherein said disposable cartridge does not include any surfaces in its fluid path downstream of said pair of sealing surfaces; wherein said disposable cartridge slides within said receptacle such that said annular protrusion depresses said diaphragm and causes said additive outlet check valve to open and said dosing chamber to reduce in volume, forcing additive through said additive outlet check valve and dispensing additive from said additive dispensing system.