Patent ID: 8087148

Claim:
A method of forming a washing machine, the method comprising: forming a tub of a plastic material, the tub including a rear wall having reinforcing ribs extending outward from an outer rear surface thereof, a cylindrical sidewall that is integrally molded with the rear wall, and an open front face, wherein forming the tub includes insert molding a bearing housing in the rear wall of the tub; connecting a first end portion of a shaft directly to a drum that is rotatably installed in the tub, wherein the drum comprises a rear wall, a cylindrical side wall, and an open front face that corresponds to the open front face of the tub, and wherein the drum is configured to receive laundry items therein; inserting the shaft directly connected to the drum into the bearing housing; mounting a rigid supporter to the rear wall of the tub, comprising mounting the supporter such that the supporter contacts portions of the rear wall of the tub and the bearing housing; aligning a stator on the supporter, and then directly fixing the stator to the tub; and directly coupling a rotor to a second end portion of the shaft.