Patent ID: 7610932

Claim:
A water treatment cartridge for operatively engaging a head assembly, the head assembly comprising one or more valves, for the treatment and control of fluid passing through the head assembly, said cartridge comprising: A. an end piece, said end piece comprising i. an end piece wall; ii. an inlet fitting having a fluid channel running along a longitudinal axis of the inlet fitting and an actuating cam surface arranged in the fluid channel for actuating a valve in the head assembly; iii. an outlet fitting having a cam surface for actuating a valve in the head assembly, said outlet fitting having a longitudinal axis; and iv. a protrusion having a longitudinal axis for actuating said one or more valves; wherein said inlet fitting, said outlet fitting, and said protrusion extend from said end piece wall; and B. a water treatment cartridge housing having a first end, a closed second end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said cartridge housing comprising a water treatment material in fluid communication with said inlet and said outlet fittings; wherein said end piece wall is connected to said first end of said cartridge housing, and wherein a portion of said cam surface of said inlet fitting is vectored from at least one of said longitudinal axis of said inlet fitting, said longitudinal axis of said outlet fitting, and said longitudinal axis of said cartridge housing, and wherein a portion of said cam surface of said outlet fitting is vectored from at least one of said longitudinal axis of said inlet fitting, said longitudinal axis of said outlet fitting, and said longitudinal axis of said cartridge housing.