Wall-mounted drum-type washing machine

Abstract

A wall-mounted drum-type washing machine include a rear panel mounted on a wall surface; a control block on the rear panel; a power line extending from the control block to outside the rear panel; and a guide unit on a rear surface of the rear panel, fixing the power line and guiding it to the outside of the rear panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wall-mounted washing machine comprising:
 a tub configured to contain washing water, wherein the tub comprises a tub sidewall and a tub rear panel that is integrally formed with the tub sidewall, wherein the tub rear panel serves as a mounting member operable to mount on an external wall;   a tub front panel coupled to the tub sidewall;   a rotatable drum disposed in the tub;   a rotatable drum shaft coupled to the rotatable drum and extending through the tub rear panel;   a driving motor disposed on the tub rear panel;   a rotatable motor shaft coupled to the driving motor and configured to provide driving force to the rotatable drum shaft;   a driving unit disposed in a rear surface of the tub rear panel, wherein one end of the driving unit is coupled to the rotatable motor shaft and another end of the driving unit is coupled to the rotatable drum shaft; and   a control block disposed on an outer surface of the tub sidewall and configured to supply signals to the driving motor.   
     
     
         2 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the tub rear panel defines an installation space configured to accommodate the driving unit, and wherein a surface of the installation space is closer to a front side of the tub rear panel than the rear surface of the tub rear panel. 
     
     
         3 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 1  further comprising a control block power line coupled to the control block and extending outside of the tub. 
     
     
         4 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the tub rear panel comprises a power line through-hole, and wherein the control block power line passes through the power line through-hole. 
     
     
         5 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 4  further comprising a power line guide unit formed on or in the rear surface of the tub rear panel,
 wherein the power line guide unit holds the control block power line, and guides the control block power line outside of the tub rear panel. 
 
     
     
         6 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 4 , wherein the tub rear panel comprises a power line path formed in a circumference of the tub rear panel, and wherein the control block power line is routed along the power line path from the tub rear panel to outside of the tub rear panel. 
     
     
         7 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 5 , wherein the tub rear panel comprises a power line path formed on or in a circumference of the tub rear panel, and wherein the control block power line is routed outside of the tub rear panel along the power line path. 
     
     
         8 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 6 , wherein the power line path is formed in a lower or an upper circumference the tub rear panel. 
     
     
         9 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 3  further comprising a power line guide unit formed in the tub rear panel, wherein the power line guide unit is configured to hold and guide the control block power line to the outside of the tub rear panel. 
     
     
         10 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a water supply unit disposed at an upper part of the tub rear panel, wherein the water supply unit is configured to supply washing water to the tub; and 
 a water drain unit disposed on the outer surface of the tub sidewall, wherein the water drain unit is configured to prevent any leaking washing water from the water supply unit from entering the control block. 
 
     
     
         11 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 10 , wherein a front portion and a bottom portion of the water drain unit are disposed on the outer surface of the tub sidewall, and wherein a rear part of the water drain unit is disposed on a front surface of the tub rear panel. 
     
     
         12 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the water drain unit comprises a blocking member integrally formed with the tub sidewall and protruding from the outer surface of the tub sidewall, and wherein a water collecting pocket is formed between the blocking member and the outer surface of the tub sidewall. 
     
     
         13 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein the water drain unit further comprises a water drain path formed in the water collecting pocket, and wherein a drain water path passes through the tub rear panel. 
     
     
         14 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 13 , wherein the water drain unit further comprises a water guide path in the rear surface of the tub rear panel and is configured to guide the washing water flowing from the water drain path toward a circumference of the tub rear panel. 
     
     
         15 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 14 , wherein the water guide path forms a ring-like shape and is disposed on the rear surface of the tub rear panel, and wherein the drain water path is outside the water guide path. 
     
     
         16 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a water supply device disposed at an upper portion of the tub rear panel and above the tub sidewall, wherein the water supply device is configured to supply washing water to the tub; and 
 a drain unit disposed on the tub rear panel and configured to prevent any leaking washing water from the water supply device from flowing toward the control block. 
 
     
     
         17 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 16 , wherein the drain unit comprises a blocking member integrally formed on the outer surface of the tub sidewall and protruding therefrom, wherein a water collecting pocket is formed between the tub sidewall and the blocking member. 
     
     
         18 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 17 , wherein the drain unit further comprises a drain water path formed in the water collecting pocket, and wherein the drain water path passes through the tub rear panel. 
     
     
         19 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 18 , wherein the drain unit further comprises a water guide path on the rear surface of the tub rear panel, and wherein the water guide path is operable to guide washing water to flow from the water drain path toward a circumference of the tub rear panel. 
     
     
         20 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a water supply device disposed at an upper portion of the tub rear panel and over the tub sidewall, wherein the water supply device is configured to supply washing water to the tub; and 
 a drain unit disposed on the tub rear panel and configured to prevent any leaking washing water from the water supply device from entering the control block. 
 
     
     
         21 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 20 , wherein the drain unit comprises a blocking rib protruding from the tub, and wherein a funnel- or pocket-shaped space is formed between the blocking rib and a circumferential surface of the tub sidewall. 
     
     
         22 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 21 , wherein the blocking rib is integral with the circumferential surface of the tub sidewall. 
     
     
         23 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 21 , wherein the blocking rib is formed on opposite sides of the tub. 
     
     
         24 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 21 , wherein the drain unit further comprises a drain hole disposed at a bottom of the funnel- or pocket-shaped space and through the tub rear panel. 
     
     
         25 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 24 , wherein the drain unit further comprises a guide rib configured to guide washing water discharged from the drain hole toward a circumference of the tub rear panel. 
     
     
         26 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 25 , wherein the guide rib has a ring shape and is disposed on a rear surface of the tub rear panel, and wherein the drain hole is outside the guide rib. 
     
     
         27 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the driving unit comprises a power coupling member and a power transfer member,   wherein the power coupling member is coupled to the rotatable drum shaft and is configured to transfer power from the power transfer member,   wherein the power transfer member is coupled to the rotatable motor shaft and the power coupling member, and   wherein the power transfer member transfers power from the driving motor to the power coupling member.   
     
     
         28 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 27 , wherein the power coupling member comprises a driving wheel. 
     
     
         29 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 27 , wherein the power transfer member comprises a belt. 
     
     
         30 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein a front portion of the control block is installed on a circumferential surface of the tub sidewall, and a rear portion of the control block is installed on a front surface of the tub rear panel.