Patent ID: 7305857

Claim:
A washing machine, comprising: an outer tub formed of a molded material and configured to hold washing water, the tub including a rear wall and an integrally molded sidewall; a bearing housing that is insert injection molded into the rear wall of the tub; at least one bearing mounted in the bearing housing; a drum rotatably mounted inside the outer tub; a shaft coupled to the drum and mounted on the at least one bearing in the bearing housing; a motor coupled to the outer side of the rear wall of the tub and to the shaft, wherein the motor comprises: a single stator coupled to the outer side of the rear wall of the tub, and a rotor coupled to the shaft and having a rear wall and a side wall that are integrally formed of steel, wherein the rotor surrounds the stator, and wherein a plurality of magnets are mounted on the sidewall, wherein a central portion of the rear wall of the rotor includes a flange portion having a plurality of mounting holes and a plurality of positioning holes, and wherein sidewalls of the positioning holes extend above or below the rear wall of the rotor.