Integral water filter and tank

A refrigerator comprising:

• a fresh food compartment;
• and
• a water dispensing system in thermal communication with said fresh food compartment, said system comprising:
• a water storage tank comprising at least an inlet portion for storage of unfiltered water and an outlet portion for discharging filtered water;
• a perforated tube disposed within said outlet portion and comprising an upstream end and a downstream end, a base extending from said upstream end and an end cap coupled to said downstream end;
• and
• a filter media disposed about said tube between said end cap and said base.

A method of supplying chilled filtered water from a water dispensing system including an integral water tank and filter assembly having an inlet line and an outlet line, said method comprising the steps of:

• introducing warm water into the tank through the inlet line;
• passing the introduced water through the tank to chill the water;
• filtering the chilled water while the water is within the tank.;
• and
• discharging the chilled water to the outlet line.

A method of supplying chilled filtered water with a refrigerator dispensing system, the refrigerator including a fresh food compartment and the dispensing system including an integral water tank and filter assembly, the tank having an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path therebetween, said method comprising the steps of:

• fastening the tank in a substantially horizontal position in thermal communication with the fresh food compartment;
• connecting the tank inlet to a water supply inlet line such that relatively warm water is introduced into the tank through the inlet line;
• connecting the tank outlet to a dispenser system outlet line;
• passing the introduced water through the flow path to chill the introduced water;
• filtering the chilled water while the water is within the tank just prior to use;
• and
• discharging the chilled water to the outlet line.

A method of supplying chilled filtered water with a refrigerator dispensing system, the refrigerator including a fresh food compartment and the dispensing system including an integral water tank and filter media disposed about a tube within the tank, the tube having a downstream end, the tank having an inlet and a serpentine flow path therebetween, said method comprising the steps of:

• removably fastening the tank in a substantially horizontal position in thermal communication with the fresh food compartment;
• connecting the tank inlet to a water supply inlet line such that relatively warm water is introduced into the tank through the inlet line;
• connecting the downstream end of the tube to a dispenser system outlet line;
• passing the introduced water through the flow path to chill the introduced water;
• passing the introduced water radially through the filter media and into the central tube just before use;
• and
• discharging the chilled water from the tube downstream end to the dispenser system outlet line.