Abstract:
A fastener kit for mounting a washing machine to a wall having a block cavity. The washing machine includes a rear panel at the rear end of the housing. The fastener kit can affix the rear panel to an external wall. When the washing machine is mounted on the wall, a first end of the fastener kit is positioned inside a block cavity of the external wall through a fastening hole formed on the external wall. The second end of the fastener kit is coupled to the real panel. The fastener kit can support the washing machine on the wall against gravity through contact between the first end and an inner surface of the block cavity.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is based on and claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0076773, filed on Jun. 20, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference for all purposes. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to wall-mounted washing machines and installation methods thereof, and more particularly, to wall-mounted washing machines which can be securely mounted on a block wall and installation methods thereof. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A wall-mounted washing machine can be installed on a wall, which is particularly useful for rooms with relatively small spaces. 
         [0004]    Generally, a wall-mounted drum type washing machine includes a cabinet, a tub disposed within the cabinet and configured to store washing water, a drum rotatably installed in the tub and configured to accommodate laundry or other washing objects, a drive device configured to supply power to drive rotation of the drum, a water supply device configured to supply washing water into the tub, and a drain device configured to drain washing water from the tub to outside of the cabinet. 
         [0005]    Once a washing operation is started, washing water is supplied into the tub and the drum by the operation of the water supply device. The drum is rotated by the drive device. At the end of washing, washing water in the tub and the drum is drained to the outside of the cabinet by operation of the drain device. 
         [0006]    A wall-mounted drum type washing machine usually is designed with a compact size. For example, it can be installed on a wall of a bathroom that typically has a small area. 
         [0007]    However, generally, a block wall built with block bricks having cavities inside may not be able to support the weight of the washing machine if only ordinary bolts are used for installation. 
         [0008]    In particular, due to vibration generated in the course of dewatering and rinsing the washing object, the affixture between the washing machine and the wall may become loose. In a worse scenario, the washing machine may even fall from the wall, causing damage to the washing machine as well as the wall, and even beyond. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Embodiments of the present disclosure provide fastening mechanisms of securely mounting a wall-mounted washing machine to a wall. 
         [0010]    In accordance with an aspect, a washing machine includes an housing; a rear panel coupled to the housing; and a fastener kit configured to affix the rear panel to a wall. When the washing machine is mounted on the wall, a first end of the fastener kit is positioned inside a block cavity of the wall through a fastening hole formed on the wall. The fastener kit is operable to support the washing machine against gravity on the wall through contact between the first end and an inner surface of the block cavity. A second end of the fastener kit is coupled to the rear panel. 
         [0011]    The washing machine may further include a tub configured to contain washing water; and a drum rotatably installed in the tub and configured to contain laundry. 
         [0012]    The tub may be integrally formed with the rear panel. 
         [0013]    The fastener kit may include: a strap, a support piece, a fixing cap and an insertion unit. The strap is operable to be inserted through the fastening hole during a process of mounting the washing machine to an external surface of the wall. The support piece is rotatably coupled to one end of the strap and configured to press against the inner surface of the block cavity when the washing machine is mounted on the wall. The fixing cap is movable along a longitudinal direction of the strap so that the fixing cap is securely pressed against the wall. The insertion unit is configured to be inserted into the fastening hole so that the insertion unit is combined with the fixing cap and the support piece for securing the coupling between the fixing cap, the support piece and the wall. 
         [0014]    The support piece may include a support hole at a center thereof. The fixing cap may include a fixing hole at a center thereof. The insertion unit may include an anchor rod for insertion through the fixing hole and the support hole and a fastening nut configured to secure the coupling between the rear panel to the anchor rod. 
         [0015]    The insertion unit may be an anchor bolt inserted through the fixing hole and the support hole so as to fix the rear panel to the wall. 
         [0016]    The strap may include: a holder portion forming a closed loop; support portions extending from opposite sides of the holder portion and having end portions rotatably coupled to the support piece; and ratchet portions formed on inner surfaces of the support portion. 
         [0017]    The ratchet portions restrict the fixing cap to moving in one direction along the strap. 
         [0018]    The fastener kit may further include a shock-absorbing member configured to attenuate vibration when it is disposed between an external surface of the wall and the rear panel. 
         [0019]    In accordance with another aspect, a washing machine includes an housing; a rear panel coupled to the housing; a fastener kit configured to affix the washing machine through the rear panel to a wall; and a shock-absorbing member configured to be disposed between the wall and the rear panel to absorb vibration during operation of the washing machine. 
         [0020]    when the washing machine is mounted on the wall; a first end of the fastener kit is positioned inside a block cavity of the wall through a fastening hole formed on the wall; the fastener kit is operable to support the washing machine against gravity on the wall through contact between the first end and an inner surface of the block cavity; and a second end of the fastener kit coupled to the rear panel. 
         [0021]    The washing machine may further include: a tub configured to contain washing water; and a drum rotatably installed in the tub. The tub may be integrally formed with the rear panel. 
         [0022]    The fastener kit may include: a strap, a support piece, a fixing cap and an insertion unit. The strap is operable to be inserted through the fastening hole during an installation process of mounting the washing machine to the wall. The support piece is rotatably coupled to one end of the strap and configured to press against the inner surface of the block cavity when the washing machine is mounted on the wall. The fixing cap is movable along a longitudinal direction of the strap so that the fixing cap is securely pressed against the wall. The insertion unit is configured to be inserted into the fastening hole so that the insertion unit is combined with the fixing cap and the support piece for securing the coupling between the fixing cap, the support piece and the wall. 
         [0023]    The support piece may include a support hole at a center thereof. The fixing cap may include a fixing hole at a center thereof. The insertion unit may include: an anchor rod for being inserted through the fixing hole and the support hole; and a fastening nut configured to secure the coupling between the rear panel to the anchor rod. 
         [0024]    The strap may include: a holder portion forming a closed loop; support portions extending from opposite sides of the holder portion and having end portions rotatably coupled to the support piece; and ratchet portions formed on the support portion and configured to restrict the fixing cap to moving in one direction along the strap. 
         [0025]    In accordance with still another aspect, there is provided a method of installing a washing machine on a wall. A fastening hole is formed in the wall having a block cavity. The washing machine is coupled to the wall through a fastening kit including a strap, a support piece, a fixing cap and an insertion unit. In the coupling, the support piece that is coupled to the strap is inserted into the fastening hole and the support piece is placed in the block cavity. The fixing cap is moved along the strap and the support piece is affixed to an inner wall of the block cavity. The washing machine is affixed to the fixing cap and the support piece by using the insertion unit configured to be inserted into the fastening hole so that the insertion unit is combined with the fixing cap and the support piece for securing the coupling between the fixing cap, the support piece and the wall. 
         [0026]    In affixing the support piece to the inner wall, the strap is adjusted to press the support piece against the inner wall of the block cavity. The fixing cap is moved toward one end of the strap. The fixing cap is pressed against an outer surface of the wall. 
         [0027]    One end portion of the strap positioned at a rear side of the fixing cap may be removed. 
         [0028]    The insertion unit may include an anchor rod and a fastening nut. In affixing the washing machine to the fixing cap and the support piece, the anchor rod is passed through a fixing hole of the fixing cap and a support hole of the support piece, and wherein a rear panel of the washing machine is fitted to the anchor rod and is secured by the fastening nut. 
         [0029]    Upon the affixing the washing machine to the fixing cap and the support piece, the fixing cap and the support piece are positioned in parallel with each other. 
         [0030]    According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a wall-mounted washing machine can be securely mounted on a block wall having a block cavity. 
         [0031]    Furthermore, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, vibration generated in the course of dewatering and rinsing is restrained from being transferred to the block wall. Embodiments of the present disclosure can suppress noise generated by vibration and prevent the washing machine from being detached from the block wall due to failure of the fastening mechanism. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary wall-mounted washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  illustrates a partial sectional view of the wall-mounted washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  illustrates an enlarged sectional view of a fastening region when the wall-mounted washing machine is mounted on a block wall according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the fastening mechanism between a wall-mounted washing machine and a block wall according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  illustrates the fastening hole formed on the block wall in order to install the wall-mounted washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure on the block wall. 
           [0037]      FIG. 6  illustrates that the support piece of the fastener unit is inserted into the block cavity and that the fixing cap is pressed against the block wall. 
           [0038]      FIG. 7  illustrates that one end of the strap is removed after the fastening unit is in place. 
           [0039]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of installing a wall-mounted washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0040]    In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. 
         [0041]    One or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which one or more exemplary embodiments of the disclosure can be easily determined by those skilled in the art. As those skilled in the art will realize, the described exemplary embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure, which is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein. 
         [0042]    It is noted that the drawings are schematic and are not necessarily dimensionally illustrated. Relative sizes and proportions of parts in the drawings may be exaggerated or reduced in their sizes, and a predetermined size is just exemplificative and not limitative. The same reference numerals designate the same structures, elements, or parts illustrated in two or more drawings in order to exhibit similar characteristics. 
         [0043]    The exemplary drawings of the present disclosure illustrate ideal exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure in more detail. As a result, various modifications of the drawings are expected. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments are not limited to a specific form of the illustrated region, and for example, include a modification of a form by manufacturing. 
         [0044]    The configuration and operation according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0045]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary wall-mounted washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 2  illustrates a partial sectional view of the wall-mounted washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 3  illustrates an enlarged sectional view of a fastening region when the wall-mounted washing machine is mounted on a block wall according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the wall-mounted washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a rear panel  100 , a tub  200 , a drum  300 , an housing  500 , a cover  600 , a front door  700  and a fastener unit  400  (or fastener kit). The washing machine may be securely installed on a block wall  10  having a block cavity  11 . However, it will be appreciated that the present disclosure is not limited to drum type washing machines. 
         [0047]    The rear panel  100  is a support frame which can be fixed to the block wall  10  through the fastener unit  400 . The rear panel  100  may be a rectangular frame having round corners. The rear panel  100  may also be configured in any other suitable shape, such as a circular shape, an elliptical shape, etc. 
         [0048]    The tub  200  may be integrally formed with the rear panel  100 . Integral formation of the rear panel  100  with the tub  200  makes it unnecessary to use extra components for supporting the tub  200 , such as a damper, a damping spring and the like. It can also reduce the number of components and the overall size of the washing machine. In particular, if the rear panel  100  is made of the same material as the tub  200 , for example, a synthetic resin, the rear panel  100  and the tub  200  may be simultaneously formed by performing insert-injection at one time. Thus, the time and cost required in manufacturing the rear panel  100  and the tub  200  can be reduced. 
         [0049]    The tub  200  is a cylindrical reservoir integrally formed with the rear panel  100  and used to store washing water. The tub  200  may receive washing water from a water supply device. Washing water may be drained from the tub  200  to the outside through a drain device. In this regard, the water supply device may include a water supply pipe providing a water supply path, and a water supply valve configured to control the flow rate of washing water supplied into the tub  200  through the water supply pipe. The drain device may include a drain pump configured to pump washing water for discharging, a drain pipe configured to provide a water drain path, and a drain port through which washing water is drained from the drain pipe. 
         [0050]    The drum  300  may be rotatably mounted within the tub  200 . The drum  300  is a cylindrical container configured to accommodate laundry and may be installed to rotate within the tub  200 . For example, the drum  300  may receive drive power from a drive device and may make half or full rotation within the tub  200 . The drive device may include a drive motor and a drive shaft rotatably coupled to the drive motor to deliver the drive power of the drive motor to the drum  300 . 
         [0051]    During a washing cycle, vibration generated due to drum rotation is usually small and can be mostly attenuated by the fastening force of the fastener unit  400  that fastens the rear panel  100  to a wall surface. However, vibration generated in the dewatering and rinsing cycles is more significant and may be hardly attenuated only by the fastening force of the fastener unit  400 . Thus, a shock-absorbing member ( 433 ) for attenuating the vibration may be optionally disposed between the rear panel  100  and the block wall  10 . 
         [0052]    The housing  500  is coupled to the rear panel  100  and encloses the tub  200 . The housing  500  may be formed in a cylindrical shape with a front opening and rear opening. The rear end of the housing  500  may be removably fixed to the rear panel  100  by fixing members such as screws or the like. 
         [0053]    The cover  600  may be a circular panel and may be mounted to the open front portion of the housing  500 . In the lower portion of the cover  600 , there may be push buttons allowing a user to control the operation of the washing machine, a display window, and the like. An opening may be formed at the center of the cover  600 . The front door  700  for covering the tub  200  covers the opening as well. 
         [0054]    The fastener unit  400  may be fixed to the block wall  10  through a fastening hole  20  such that the washing machine can be affixed to the block wall  10 . The fastener unit  400  may include a strap  410  that can be inserted into the fastening hole  20 , a support piece  420  rotatably coupled to one end of the strap  410  and can be supported on an inner wall of the block cavity  11 , a fixing cap  430  movable along a longitudinal direction of the strap  410  and an insertion unit. For example, the insertion unit includes an anchor rod  450  inserted through the fixing hole  431  of the fixing cap  430  and a support hole  421  of the support piece  420  and coupled to the fixing cap  430  and the support piece  420 , and a fastening nut  460  configured to fix the rear panel  100  of the washing machine to the anchor rod  450 . 
         [0055]    The strap  410  may include a holder member  411  forming a closed loop, support members  412  extending from the opposite sides of the holder member  411  and having their ends rotatably coupled to the support piece  420 , and ratchet members  413  formed on inner surfaces of the support members  412  to allow the fixing cap  430  to move in only one direction along the strap. Thus, if a user holds the holder member  411  and pushes the fixing cap  430  along the strap  410  and toward the block wall  10 , the fixing cap  430  cannot move backward due to the ratchet members  413 . Thus, the fixing cap  430  may be securely pressed against the block wall  10 . 
         [0056]    The support hole  421 , to which the anchor rod  450  is threadedly coupled, is formed at the center of the support piece  420 . The fixing hole  431 , to which the anchor rod  450  is threadedly coupled, is formed at the center of the fixing cap  430 . In a state in which the support piece  420  and the fixing cap  430  are disposed in parallel with each other, the anchor rod  450  may be threadedly coupled to the fixing hole  431  and the support hole  421 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the fastening mechanism between a wall-mounted washing machine and a block wall according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0058]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a fastener unit  400  of a wall-mounted washing machine may include a strap  410 , a support piece  420 , a fixing cap  430  and an insertion unit. For example, the insertion unit is an anchor bolt  440 . The strap  410 , the support piece  420  and the fixing cap  430  have the similar configuration as described above. Thus, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. 
         [0059]    The anchor bolt  440  may pass through the rear panel  100  and may be threadedly coupled to the fixing hole  431  and the support hole  421 . Thus, the wall-mounted washing machine may be firmly fixed to the block wall  10  without having to use an additional fastening nut  460 . 
         [0060]    Hereinafter, an installation process of a washing machine on a wall using the fastener unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to  FIGS. 5 to 7 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 5  illustrates the fastening hole  20  formed on the block wall in order to install the wall-mounted washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure on the block wall.  FIG. 6  illustrates that the support piece of the fastener unit is inserted into the block cavity and that the fixing cap  430  is pressed against the block wall.  FIG. 7  illustrates that one end portion of the strap  410  is removed after the fastening unit is in place. 
         [0062]    If the fastening hole  20  is drilled in the block wall  10  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , one end portion of the strap  410  is inserted into the fastening hole  20  with the support piece  420  rotated to be orthogonal to the wall. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the support piece  420  is placed within the block cavity  11  of the block wall  10  and is pressed against the inner wall of the block cavity  11  after a user manipulates the strap  410 . Then, the fixing cap  430  is pushed along the strap  410  toward the block wall  10  and is pressed against the block wall  10 . 
         [0063]    As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the end portion of the strap  410  (on the rear side of the fixing cap  430 ) is cut off. In this state, one end of the anchor rod  450  may be threadedly coupled to the fixing hole  431  and the support hole  421 . The rear panel  100  may then be attached to the other end of the anchor rod  450 . 
         [0064]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process of installing the wall-mounted washing machine using a fastening unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0065]    As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the method includes: a step (S 100 ) of forming a fastening hole in a block wall; a step (S 200 ) of inserting a support piece into the fastening hole and placing the support piece in a block cavity; a step (S 300 ) of fixing the support piece to an inner wall of the block cavity; and a step (S 400 ) of fixing the washing machine to a fixing cap and the support piece. 
         [0066]    At the step S 100 , a user may drill the wall through to form the fastening hole  20 . 
         [0067]    At the step S 200 , the support piece  420  is rotated in one direction and one end of a strap  410  coupled to the support piece  420  is inserted into the fastening hole  20  so that the support piece  420  is positioned within the block cavity  11 . 
         [0068]    At the step S 300 , the fixing cap  430  is moved in one direction along the strap  410  and the support piece  420  is affixed to the inner wall of the block cavity  11 . For example, the strap  410  is adjusted so that the support piece  420  is pressed against the inner wall of the block cavity  11  and the fixing cap  430  is moved toward one end of the strap  410  and is pressed against the block wall  10 . The other end of the strap  410  positioned at the rear side of the fixing cap  430  is then removed. 
         [0069]    At the step S 400 , the fixing cap  430  and the support piece  420  are disposed in parallel with each other, the anchor rod  450  passes through the fixing hole  431  of the fixing cap  430  and the support hole  421  of the support piece  420 . The rear panel  100  is placed on the anchor rod  450  and is fixed by a fastening nut  460 . 
         [0070]    In the case where the anchor bolt  440  is used in place of the anchor rod  450  and the fastening nut  460 , the anchor bolt  440  is threadedly coupled to the fixing hole  431  and the support hole  421  through the rear panel  100 , thereby tightly affixing the washing machine to the block wall  10 . 
         [0071]    As described above, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a wall-mounted washing machine can be securely mounted on the block wall having a block cavity. The vibration of the washing machine generated in the course of dewatering and rinsing the washing object is restrained from being transferred to the block wall. Embodiments of the present disclosure can advantageously reduce noise generated by vibration and prevent the washing machine from falling from the block wall. 
         [0072]    Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that the present disclosure may be implemented in various ways without changing the necessary features or the spirit of the present disclosure. 
         [0073]    Therefore, it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described above are not limiting, but only an example in all respects. The scope of the present disclosure is expressed by claims below, not the detailed description, and it should be construed that all changes and modifications achieved from the meanings and scope of claims and equivalent concepts are included in the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0074]    From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. The exemplary embodiments disclosed in the specification of the present disclosure do not limit the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure will be interpreted by the claims below, and it will be construed that all techniques within the scope equivalent thereto belong to the scope of the present disclosure.