# US 10,246,857 B2 · Distributing, opening and closing device for taps > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,857 B2 - Document ID: US10246857B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/124,247 - Filed: 2015-03-09 - Published: 2017-01-19 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2014-03-14 - Assignees: Griferias Grober, S.L. - Applicants: Griferias Grober, S.L. - Inventors: Roberto Ladron Jimenez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246857B2 ## CPC - E03B 7/08: Arrangement of draining devices, {e.g. manual shut-off valves}(draining devices in general F16K, F16L) - E03C 1/04: Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths (valves, faucets, mixing valves, taps F16K) - F16K 11/074: with flat sealing faces - F16K 11/085: with cylindrical plug - F16K 25/005: {Particular materials for seats or closure elements} - E03C 1/025: {Water supply lines as such, e.g. shower hoses} - E03C 2201/30: Diverter valves in faucets or taps - Y10T 137/86638: Rotary valve - E03B: INSTALLATIONS OR METHODS FOR OBTAINING, COLLECTING, OR DISTRIBUTING WATER (drilling wells, obtaining fluids in general from wells E21B; pipe-line systems in general F17D) - E03C: DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER (not connected to either water-supply main or to waste pipe A47K; devices of the kind used in the ground E03B, E03F); SINKS - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Distributing, opening and closing device for taps, has an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber to the shower column/head or to the shower hose, an outlet chamber to the shower hose or the shower column/head, a discharge opening and a water regulator with the functions of opening, intermediate closing and closing/discharging in one single mechanism, the water regulator being connected to the chambers of the distributing device, and being regulated via an actuating control with several positions, diverting the water, depending on the actuating rotation, to the corresponding chamber or discharge opening of both, thus releasing the water retained in the feed pipes in order to eliminate uncontrolled discharges of water, dripping or the formation of bacteria that are commonly generated in stagnant water, such as legionella. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Distributing, opening and closing device for taps, characterised in that said device comprises an inlet chamber (2), a shower hose (9), a shower column/head (8), a first outlet chamber (3) to the shower column/head (8) or to the shower hose (9), a second outlet chamber (4) to the shower hose (9) or to the shower column/head (8), a discharge opening (5) located within said device and a water regulator (6) located within said device which incorporates the functions of opening, intermediate closing and closing/discharging the shower hose (9) or the shower column/head (8) in one single mechanism, said water regulator (6) being connected to the inlet or outlet chambers (2,3 and 4) of the distributing device, and being regulated via an actuating control (7-7.1) with several positions, depending on the actuating rotation, to divert the water to the corresponding outlet chamber (3-4) or discharge opening (5) of both, wherein the water regulator (6) comprises an inlet pipe (2.1), an outlet pipe (3.1) to the shower column/head or shower hose, an outlet pipe (4.1) to the shower hose or shower column/head, a discharge pipe (5.1) and ceramic discs (10) and wherein the ceramic discs (10) comprises a fixed part (10.1) and a rotating part (10.2), the fixed part (10.1) being configured by several straight through-openings configured around the external diameter of the same, positioning, in the top semicircle, an opening (12) intended for discharging and on either side, an elongated opening (13), one intended for the outlet of the flexible hose (9) and the other for the shower column/head (8), positioning in the bottom semicircle an elongated opening (14) of larger dimensions, taking up a large part of the semicircular surface, intended for the inlet of water. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Distributing, opening and closing device for taps, according to claim 1, wherein the rotating part (10.2) comprises an elongated cavity (11), configured around the external diameter of the same, positioned in the top semicircle, intended for controlling the water flow, in conjunction with openings (12, 13 and 14) of the fixed part (10.1). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Distributing, opening and closing device for taps, according to claim 1, wherein when the actuating control (7) is positioned for the function of opening the outlet pipe to the shower column/head (8) or the shower hose (9), the inlet chamber (2) is connected to the outlet chamber (3) via the inlet pipe (2.1) and outlet pipe (3.1) of the water regulator (6). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Distributing, opening and closing device for taps, according to claim 1, wherein when the actuating control (7) is positioned at the function of intermediate closing of the outlet pipe to the shower column/head (8) or the shower hose (9), the connection between the inlet chamber (2) and the outlet chamber (3) is cut off. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Distributing, opening and closing device for taps, according to claim 1, wherein when the actuating control (7) is positioned at the function of closing/discharging the outlet pipe to the shower column/head (8), the discharge pipe (5.1) of the water regulator (6) is opened so that the water retained in the shower column/head (8) and/or shower hose (9) can flow out by gravity through a discharge opening (5). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Distributing, opening and closing device for taps, according to claim 1, wherein when the actuating control (7) is positioned at the function of opening the outlet pipe to the shower hose (9) or to the shower column/head (8), the inlet chamber (2) is connected to the outlet chamber (4) via the inlet pipe (2.1) and outlet pipe (4.1) of the water regulator (6). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Distributing, opening and closing device for taps, according to claim 1, wherein when the actuating control (7) is positioned at the function of intermediate closing of the outlet pipe to the shower hose (9) or to the shower column/head (8), the connection between the inlet chamber (2) and the outlet chamber (4) is cut off. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Distributing, opening and closing device for taps, according to claim 1, wherein when the actuating control (7) is positioned at the function of closing/discharging the outlet pipe to the shower hose (9), the discharge pipe (5.1) of the water regulator (6) is opened so that the water retained in the shower column/head (8) and/or the shower hose (9) can flow out by gravity through a discharge opening (5). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) Distributing, opening and closing device for taps, according to claim 1, wherein the water regulator (6) can be fitted on a distributing device (1.1), configured by a single outlet chamber to a shower column/head (8) or to a shower hose (9), being regulated by an actuating control (7.1.) with three positions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) Distributing, opening and closing device for taps, according to claim 1, wherein the inlet chamber (2) is only a single inlet chamber.