Beverage dispensing apparatus for a refrigerator

A beverage storage vessel adapted to be mounted in a refrigerating compartment of a refrigerator for dispensing a cold beverage through a door of the refrigerator, the vessel comprising:

• a vessel body for storing a beverage and having a beverage outlet;
• a spigot mounted on the vessel body and adapted to project through a refrigerator door when the door is closed, the spigot including:
• a spigot body forming a beverage passage communicating with the outlet,
• a valve movably disposed within the spigot body between a passage-opening position and a passage-closing position, and
• a magnet attached to the valve, adapting the valve to be moved to its passage-opening position by a magnetic force generated between the magnet and another magnet carried by the door.

A refrigerator comprising:

• a body forming a refrigerating compartment;
• a door for closing the refrigerating compartment;
• a beverage storage vessel disposed in the refrigerating compartment and including a valved spigot which projects through the door when the door is closed so as to extend outside of the door;
• a sealing structure for creating an air-tight seal between the spigot and hole when the door is closed;
• and
• a retainer for retaining the vessel in place during opening of the door;
• wherein the sealing structure includes a first sealing element, a fixing member for attaching the first sealing element to the door such that the first sealing element presses against the spigot when the door is closed;
• the sealing structure further including a second sealing element mounted on the vessel and being pressed against the fixing member when the door is closed.