Patent ID: 8893927

Claim:
A cartridge for selectively dispensing an additive to water, comprising: a housing having a longitudinal axis and a curved cross section formed by first and second convex-shaped sidewalls, wherein the first and second sidewalls are spaced apart; a reservoir disposed within said housing, said reservoir containing a consumable water additive; and a pump connected to said housing and in fluid communication with said reservoir, wherein said pump comprises a pump body having a pump opening disposed therein, an inlet check valve positioned in the pump opening, and a diaphragm cooperative with the inlet check valve to define a dose chamber, wherein: said diaphragm comprises an additive outlet check valve, said additive outlet check valve comprises a pair of sealing surfaces, said pump is configured to dispense an amount of the consumable water additive from said reservoir upon activation of said pump; and wherein said cartridge comprises a door opening device disposed along said housing configured to open a door connected to a receptacle and operable to open and close an opening in an interface of the receptacle to permit the consumable water additive to dispense from said cartridge; wherein when a user applies a force to a closed end of the housing, the cartridge is moved toward a body of the interface, the door opening device positioned on the pump body slides through a slot of the interface to engage the door, the door opening device moves the door away from the opening of the interface thus allowing the outlet check valve to move through the opening in the interface and dispense the additive from a bladder, and once the applied force is removed, a spring moves the cartridge back away from the interface body, thus disengaging the door opening device from the door and closing the opening in the interface.