Disposable flavor insert for water dispenser

Abstract

A method of adding flavor additive to water, by providing a refrigerated appliance with a cabinet and a door configured to allow selective access to the inside of the cabinet providing a housing with a recess having a water dispensing outlet accessible from the outside of the door and a dispensing area, providing a flavor insert device with an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a porous enclosure comprising a porous exterior and a supply of solid flavor particles within the porous exterior. Then by placing a receiving receptacle below the outlet of the flavor insert device, actuating a water valve permitting an amount of water to fall from the water dispensing outlet and into the inlet portion of the flavor insert device, adding a flavoring to the water, permitting the amount of water to flow to the outlet portion, and permitting the amount of water to flow out of the outlet portion and into the receiving receptacle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of enabling a flavor additive to be added to a drinking water dispenser, comprising:
 providing a refrigerated appliance with a cabinet and a door configured to allow selective access to the inside of the cabinet;   providing a housing with a recess having a water dispensing outlet accessible from the outside of the door;   providing a flavor insert device with an outer shell, a flange, and a porous enclosure comprising a porous exterior and a supply of solid flavor particles within the porous exterior;   placing the flavor insert device on a support disposed below the water dispensing outlet within the recess;   placing a receiving receptacle below the flavor insert device;   actuating a water valve;   permitting an amount of water to fall from the water dispensing outlet and into the outer shell of the flavor insert device;   adding a flavoring to the amount of water; and   permitting the amount of water to flow out a perforated bottom portion of the outer shell and into the receiving receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving the flavor insert device in a fixed flange at the dispensing outlet in a substantially horizontal sliding manner. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adding step is accomplished by dissolving the solid flavor particles in the amount of water. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the adding step is accomplished by dissolving the solid flavor particles in the amount of water. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a prepackaged set of a plurality of flavor insert devices. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of removing one of the flavor insert devices from the prepackaged set of flavor insert devices. 
     
     
         7 . A method of adding flavor additive to water, comprising:
 providing a refrigerated appliance with a cabinet and a door configured to allow selective access to the inside of the cabinet;   providing a housing with a recess having a water dispensing outlet accessible from the outside of the door and a dispensing area;   providing a flavor insert device with an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a porous enclosure comprising a porous exterior and a supply of solid flavor particles within the porous exterior;   placing a receiving receptacle below the outlet of the flavor insert device;   actuating a water valve;   permitting an amount of water to fall from the water dispensing outlet and into the inlet portion of the flavor insert device;   adding a flavoring to the water;   permitting the amount of water to flow to the outlet portion; and   permitting the amount of water to flow out of the outlet portion and into the receiving receptacle.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of receiving the flavor insert device in a fixed flange comprising a pair of supports rigidly fixed between the dispensing outlet and the dispensing area and spaced apart laterally relative to the flow of the amount of water. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the adding step is accomplished by dissolving the solid flavor particles in the amount of water. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the adding step is accomplished by dissolving the solid flavor particles in the amount of water. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of removing a seal from the top of the flavor insert device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the flow of water from the inlet portion to the outlet portion is accomplished by sloping a bottom wall of the flavor insert device from a high point at the inlet portion to a low point at the outlet portion. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising the step of preventing the flavor insert device from sliding out of the outlet portion by configuring a step in the outlet portion. 
     
     
         14 . A method of adding flavor to water from a refrigerator with an external water dispenser, comprising:
 providing a refrigerated appliance with a cabinet and a door configured to allow selective access to the inside of the cabinet;   providing a housing with a recess having a water dispensing outlet accessible from the outside of the door and a dispensing area;   providing a flavor insert device with an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a porous enclosure comprising a porous exterior and a supply of solid flavor particles within the porous exterior;   placing a receiving receptacle below the outlet of the flavor insert device;   actuating a water valve;   permitting a flow of water from:
 a water dispensing outlet to the inlet portion; 
 from the inlet portion to the flavor inert device; 
 from the flavor inlet device to the outlet portion; and 
 from the outlet portion to the receiving receptacle; and 
   adding a flavoring to the water;   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of receiving the flavor insert device in a fixed flange comprising a pair of supports rigidly fixed between the dispensing outlet and the dispensing area and spaced apart laterally relative to the flow of the amount of water. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the adding step is accomplished by dissolving the solid flavor particles in the amount of water. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the adding step is accomplished by dissolving the solid flavor particles in the amount of water. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of removing a seal from the top of the flavor insert device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the flow of water from the inlet portion to the outlet portion is accomplished by sloping a bottom wall of the flavor insert device from a high point at the inlet portion to a low point at the outlet portion. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of preventing the flavor insert device from sliding out of the outlet portion by configuring a step in the outlet portion.