The present invention is directed to a cyclone vacuum cleaner.

Cyclone type vacuum cleaners are widely known because of their benefit in bagless dust collection. In cyclone type vacuum cleaners, dust is separated in cyclone separators via a cyclone effect. Dust separated in this way is transferred to dust collecting containers. The dust collecting containers have to be emptied at least from time to time. In many known vacuum cleaner systems, mounting and dismounting the dust collector to and from the vacuum cleaner still is comparatively cumbersome, time consuming and user- unfriendly .

Therefore, it is one of the objects of the present invention to solve the problems observed with state of technology. In particular, a cyclone vacuum cleaner shall be provided which allows the dust collecting container to be mounted and dismounted in a comparatively easy, guick and user-friendly way. Further, a cyclone vacuum cleaner shall be provided where a user can easily and without great difficulties perform actions reguired during operation of the vacuum cleaner, such as for example dust compacting .

These and further objects are solved by the features of claim 1. Embodiments and variants result from respective dependent claims . According to claim 1, a cyclone vacuum cleaner is provided which comprises a dust separator unit and a dust collector unit. The dust collector unit is adapted for collecting dust separated by the cyclone dust separator unit. This in particular means that, during ordinary operation, the dust collector unit and cyclone dust separator unit are coupled to each other such that dust separated by the cyclone effect enters the dust collecting con ^¬ tainer. Preferably, during ordinary operation, a dust outlet of the cyclone dust separator and a dust inlet of the dust collect- ing container are coupled to each other in an air-tight and dust-tight connection.

The dust separator unit and related dust collector unit prefera ^¬ bly are implemented as a primary stage cyclone unit of the cy- clone vacuum cleaner . It shall be mentioned, that in case that the cyclone vacuum cleaner comprises several cyclone stages, secondary cyclone stages or even higher order cleaning or separating steps or stages may be provided downstream the primary stage cyclone unit. Note that in principle, the inventive con- cept, as laid down further below, will or is applicable to higher order cyclone stages, such as secondary cyclone stages, as well .

According to claim 1, the dust collector unit comprises a detent mechanism which is adapted to releasably, or detachably couple a dust collecting container or receptacle with a corresponding mounting support. Note that in particular the mounting support and the dust collecting container may be comprised by or be part of the dust collecting unit.

The dust collecting container may have for example an elongate cylindrical shape or be of any other suitable configuration. The mounting support may be or may be part of a section of a base body of the cyclone vacuum cleaner. The mounting support may be implemented as a type of interface adapted in shape to match at least a section of the dust collection container. For example, the mounting support may comprise a mounting surface with a counterpart or complementary configuration and shape as compared to an outer wall section of the dust collecting container in- tended to be placed at, on or to the mounting surface. However, it is not mandatory that the mounting support and dust collecting container have respective surfaces or faces of counterpart or complementary configuration and shape . The detent mechanism is adapted to releasably couple the dust collecting container with the mounting support. The term "coupling" in this connection in particular shall mean a mechanical coupling, i.e. mechanical connection, between respective elements . The term coupling in particular shall be understood also in the meaning of establishing a coupling, locking or latching engagement, in particular of mechanical type, between respective components . Releasably in particular shall apply to the ordinary condition of use, which for cyclone vacuum cleaners in general reguires attaching or detaching the dust collecting container to or from the cyclone vacuum cleaner, in particular mounting support. Here, attachment or detachment, or a connecting or disconnecting action, carried out for emptying the dust collecting container, shall be executable by a manual action of the user. Emptying the dust collecting container in general reguires the user to completely remove the dust collecting container from the vacuum cleaner, remove the dust from the container and to connect the dust collecting container to the vacuum cleaner again. Other operations carried out on or with the dust collecting con- tainer, such as for example compacting of dust within the container, may be carried out without complete removal of the dust container from the vacuum cleaner. In these cases, however, it could be that the dust collecting container has to be disconnected to some extent, which would readily possible by the de- tent mechanism as proposed herein.

Further, according to claim 1 it is provided that the detent mechanism comprises at least one spring-loaded locking lever adapted to establish a locking engagement between the dust col- lecting container and the mounting support in ordinary opera- tion. Such a spring loaded locking lever greatly enhances and simplifies coupling and uncoupling, mounting and dismounting or connecting and disconnecting actions to be performed or reguired for at least slightly or even for completely removing or attach- ing the dust collecting container from or to the cyclone vacuum cleaner, in particular mounting surface.

An advantage of the proposed detent mechanism is, that using a spring-loaded locking lever allows comparatively high, at least however sufficiently high, detent torgues. Further, connecting and disconnecting actions can readily be carried out by a user without reguiring involved manual actions for releasing or es ^¬ tablishing the coupling engagement by the detent mechanism. As a conseguence, any actions carried out on or with the dust con- tainer and reguiring at least partial removal of the dust con ^¬ tainer from the mounting surface can be carried out in a more simple and user-friendly way.

At least at this point it shall be mentioned, that the term de- tent mechanism in particular shall mean a mechanism for positioning and mechanically holding two elements in a relatively fixed relation to each other. Preferably, detent shall be under ^¬ stood in the sense that releasing or establishing a connection can be carried out by applying a force, in particular twisting, pulling and/or tilting force, to at least one of the two ele ^¬ ments. As already indicated, such a detent mechanism has the ad ^¬ vantage that no extra actions, such as pushing or pulling but ^¬ tons, latches, spring tongues and the like are reguired. However, it shall be mentioned that a safety lock may be provid ^¬ ed which may be adapted to allow a user to lock the detent mech ^¬ anism in situations, for example during transport, in which re ^¬ moval of the dust collecting container is not desirable under any circumstance . During ordinary use of the cyclone vacuum cleaner, the safety lock, which may be provided as a removable add-on part, may be deactivated or removed such that the above described user-friendly operation, in particular of the dust collecting container, or more general the dust collector unit, is possible.

In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the at least one locking lever of the detent mechanism is implemented as a self- locking and self-releasing locking lever. The terms self-locking and self-releasing shall be understood in the sense that locking or releasing the detent mechanism is automatically established if complementary detent elements are brought into or out of alignment, without reguiring additional actions, in particular user actions. Bringing the complementary detent elements into or out of alignment may for example be ob ^¬ tained by applying a pulling, pushing or tilting force to the dust collecting container. Fur this purpose, the dust collecting container may be eguipped with a handle. Further reference is made to the description above relating to the term "detent".

In a further preferred embodiment, it is provided that the at least one locking lever is implemented as a tilting lever, in particular rocker, with a tilting or pivot axis. The latter in particular shall mean that the tilting lever is pivotable or tiltable around the pivot or tilting axis.

The pivot or tilting axis of the tilting lever can be oriented at least one of approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the dust collecting container in the mounted position and ap- proximately perpendicular to a direction of force reguired for removing the dust collecting container from or coupling the dust collecting container to the mounting support. In particular for the mentioned orientations, user friendly movements of the dust collecting container for engaging or disengaging the detent mechanism can be obtained. The term "approximately" here shall in particular mean that it is possible that the mentioned directions are tilted against each other to a certain degree . For example, the longitudinal axis of the dust collecting container may not be oriented strictly in vertical direction but tilted slightly towards the horizontal direction.

According to claim 3, the tilting lever comprises a first lever arm extending from one side of the tilt axis. This first lever arm is loaded with a biasing spring. Note that the biasing spring is used to generate a detent torgue relevant for the strength of the locking engagement of the detent mechanism. Further, the tilting lever comprises a second lever arm extending from an opposite side of the tilt axis. The second lever arm comprises a detent element adapted to couple with or engage a corresponding complementary counter detent element.

By using such a tilting lever, a comparative robust and reliable detent mechanism can be obtained. Further, such a tilting lever allows adaptation of detent torgues, coupling forces and the like over a wide range. For example, the detent torgue, detent force or coupling force of the detent mechanism can be varied or influenced by parameters such as length of the tilting lever arms, spring strength, size and orientation of detent or coupling faces and surfaces, and others.

In the embodiment as described beforehand, it may be provided, that the point of action of the biasing spring on the first lever arm and the detent element on the second lever arm may be provided on one, i.e. the same side, of the tilting lever, with respect to the lengthwise direction of the tilting lever.

The pivot axis, which may be provided approximately in the middle between the point of action of the biasing spring and the detent element, may be provided at the other, i. e. opposite, side of the tilting lever. Such a configuration has been found to be easy to implement and to provide sufficient detent and coupling torgue and forces.

In one variant it may be provided, that the detent element com- prises at least one of a detent pin, detent nose and detent cam lobe protruding from the lever arm. In particular in this case, the corresponding complementary counter detent element, which may be provided at an outer surface of the dust collecting container, may comprise at least one of a recess, hole and notch, respectively of complementary shape as compared to the detent pin, detent nose and/or detent cam lobe. Such a configuration has been proven advantageous for establishing locking tight engagement between the dust container and the mounting support . However, it shall be mentioned that the shape and type of the detent element and counter detent element may be exchanged and different .

In a further variant, it is provided that the detent element, i.e. the detent pin, detent nose and/or detent cam lobe comprise at least one slanted or inclined coupling surface. Slanted coupling surfaces may be provided with different orientations and inclination, via which the detent torgue and detent or coupling forces may be adapted or adjusted. The counter detent element, i. e. the recess, hole and notch, comprises at least one corre- sponding complementary shaped counter-coupling surface. As already indicated, and according to a preferred variant, the at least one coupling surface and at least one counter coupling surface are designed such that the detent mechanism generates a force pressing or urging the dust collecting container towards the mounting support .

The pressing or urging forces and the force needed by a user to disengage the detent mechanism, i. e. to disengage the dust container and mounting support, may be adapted by adeguately se- lecting the spring strength. Further, the force needed to disen- gage the detent mechanism may be adapted or varied by adeguately selecting the inclination of the coupling surface and/or corresponding counter coupling surface. It shall be noted, that cou ^¬ pling surfaces and counter coupling surfaces may be provided in different orientations and directions, in particular such that urging forces can be generated for different directions, e. g. in a horizontal, vertical and/or lateral direction with respect to the ordinary position of use of the vacuum cleaner. This in particular means, that urging forces can be generated that urge the dust collecting container towards the mounting support such that a tight connection between a dust outlet of the cyclone dust separator and a dust inlet of the dust collecting container is established in the mounted configuration. In one further variant, the tilting lever is hinged via a fin and notch bearing, in which the fin and notch are loosely engaged or coupled with each other, wherein the notch is preferably implemented at the tilting lever and the fin is preferably implemented at or near the mounting support. Note that the posi- tion of the notch and fin can also be interchanged. Fin and notch bearings are comparatively robust and durable, which is advantageous as the dust collecting container will be removed from and coupled to the mounting surface many times over the lifetime of the vacuum cleaner.

In a variant as already indicated further above, the pivot axis of the tilting lever is oriented transverse to a motion reguired for removing or coupling the dust collecting container from or to the mounting support. Such a configuration has been shown to particularly robust and durable. Further reference is made to the description above relating to the orientation of the pivot axis .

In a further embodiment, the at least one locking lever is lo ^¬ cated at or mounted to the mounting support and adapted to en- gage a fixed counter detent element or locking element provided at the dust collecting container, in particular at or in an outer surface of the dust collecting container. With such a configuration, the establishment of a coupling engagement between mounting support and dust collecting container is comparatively simple and user friendly. However, it shall be mentioned that the locking lever as a moveable locking element may be provided at the dust collecting container and that the mounting support in this case can comprise a fixed, i.e. non-moveable, counter detent or locking element .

In a preferred variant it is provided, that the detent mechanism comprises two locking levers arranged at opposing side walls of the mounting support, in particular side walls which face each other, wherein the locking levers are adapted to engage the dust collecting container at two opposing locking points. With this variant, a double locking mechanism with a pair of locking levers can be provided which was found to be comparatively robust and able to securely lock the dust collecting container to the mounting support. If reguired, and inter alia depending on the size of the locking levers and dust collecting container, more than just one pair of locking levers may be provided.

In a further embodiment of the vacuum cleaner it is provided that the cyclone dust collector unit comprises a coupling unit adapted to mechanically couple the dust collecting container to the mounting support at a location remote from the detent mecha ^¬ nism. Note that in this embodiment, the coupling unit is differ ^¬ ent from the detent mechanism and is provided as an additional functional element. The coupling unit is further adapted to ena ^¬ ble engagement and disengagement of the detent mechanism via a tilting movement of the cyclone dust collector relative to the mounting support. The proposed coupling unit enables a compara ^¬ tively user-friendly operation of the dust collecting container, in particular comparatively easy removal, replacement and mount ^¬ ing of the dust collecting container.

In a variant it is provided that the coupling unit comprises first coupling elements provided at the mounting support and adapted to engage complementary second coupling elements at the dust collecting container. The coupling elements may comprise or be implemented as recesses, projections, elevated and/or recess ^¬ es areas or faces. The coupling elements may be advantageous in the course of coupling or removing the dust collecting container to or from the mounting support, in that the dust collecting container can, at lest to some extent, be fixed and aligned for obtaining a proper engagement or disengagement of the detent mechanism. Further, the coupling elements may provide an addi- tional support, and, in addition to the detent mechanism, may provide additional suspension points. This is also advantageous during ordinary operation of the vacuum cleaner, as additional suspension points contribute to enhanced retention forces for the dust collecting container coupled to the mounting support.

In a variant, it is provided that the second coupling elements are provided at an outer bottom surface of the cyclone dust col ^¬ lecting container and the first coupling elements are provided at a bottom site of the mounting support, and wherein the detent mechanism is located at an upper site of the mounting support.

This variant and configuration has been found to offer high user comfort and easy operability.

For tilting the dust collecting container during removal or dur- ing attaching the dust collecting container from or to the mounting support, a handle, in particular a fold-out handle and/or pull-out, i.e. telescopic, handle may be provided at the dust collecting container. If the dust collecting container is implemented with an additional function, in particular such as a function of allowing the dust collected in the dust collecting chamber to be compacted, the handle may also be used for operating a respective additional function, e. g. a dust compacting mechanism . In an embodiment of the cyclone vacuum cleaner, it is provided that the mounting support is provided at a front side of the cyclone vacuum cleaner, or in more detail a front side of the main body of the cyclone vacuum cleaner, such that the dust collecting container can be removed or coupled from or to the mounting support from the front. This configuration is particularly user friendly and is, with respect to the dust collecting container, easy to handle .

In particular in the embodiment as described beforehand, the mounting support may be adapted to support, hold or fix the dust collecting container in ordinary use of the vacuum cleaner in an upright orientation or condition. In the upright orientation, a longitudinal axis of the dust collecting container is preferably oriented in vertical direction or slightly tilted vis-a-vis the vertical direction. Here it can be assured that most of the dust entering the dust container at an upper dust inlet opening drops downwards to the bottom of the dust collecting container. Also, this variant is comparatively user friendly. Embodiments of the invention will now be described in connection with the annexed figures, in which.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a cyclone vacuum cleaner in the assembled configuration;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the cyclone vacuum cleaner with a partially dismounted dust collecting container;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the cyclone vacuum cleaner with a dismounted dust collecting container; shows a perspective front view of the cyclone vacuum cleaner with a dismounted dust collecting container; shows a cross-section of a first detail in connection with a detent mechanism for locking the dust collecting container; shows a cross-section of a second detail in connection with the detent mechanism; shows a cross-section of a third detail in connection with the detent mechanism; shows a cross-section of a fourth detail in connection with the detent mechanism; shows the cyclone vacuum cleaner in a first operational state; and shows the cyclone vacuum cleaner in a second operational state.

In the figures, like elements are designated by like reference signs .

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a cyclone vacuum cleaner 1. The cyclone vacuum cleaner 1 comprises a cyclone dust separator 2, which in the present case constitutes a primary stage cyclone separator. The cyclone vacuum cleaner 1 in the present example comprises also a secondary stage cyclone dust separator 3, which will not be described in further detail. The cyclone vacuum cleaner 1 further comprises a dust collecting container 4 which is arranged and accessible at a front side of the cyclone vacuum cleaner 1. The dust collecting container 4 comprises a compartment 5 for collecting dust separated via the cyclone effect in the cyclone dust separator 2. Further, the dust collecting container 4 comprises a handle 6 which, as can be seen in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, is rotatable with respect to the dust collecting container 4. FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the cyclone vacuum cleaner 1, in which the dust collecting container 4 is partially dismounted from or connected to the cyclone vacuum cleaner 1.

As can be seen from a comparison of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the han- die 6 can be rotated with respect to the dust collecting container 4, in particular between a mounting position in FIG. 1 and a swung out position in FIG. 2. It may be provided that in respective positions, the handle 6 can be fixed relative to the dust collecting container 4 so that any further rotation of the handle 6 is blocked. The position in FIG. 2 allows it for a user to easily handle the dust collecting container 4 via the handle 6, whilst the position as shown in FIG. 1 is advantageous during ordinary operation of the cyclone vacuum cleaner 1. In FIG. 2, a dust outlet 7 of the cyclone separator 2 is visible. This dust outlet 7 is coupled in the assembled state with a dust inlet 8 of the dust collecting container 4. The dust inlet 8 is provided at an upper section of the dust collecting container 4. In that the dust collecting container 4, in particular the compartment 5, is positioned upright, as can in particular be seen from FIG. 1, dust entering the dust collecting container 4 drops towards the bottom of the dust collecting container 4, i. e. compartment 5. Upright in this embodiment means that the longitudinal axis of the compartment 5 is oriented approximately in vertical direction. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the longitudinal axis is slightly tilted against the vertical axis.

A movement to be performed by a user to disconnect or connect the dust collecting container 4 from or to the cyclone vacuum cleaner 1 is indicated by a double arrow in FIG. 2. In general, the dust collecting container 4 is disconnected from the cyclone vacuum cleaner 1, in more detail from a cyclone vacuum cleaner body 9 each time the compartment 5 has to be emptied. In these cases the dust collecting container 4 has to be fully removed from the cyclone vacuum cleaner body 9 . This situation is shown in FIG. 3 giving a perspective view of the cyclone vacuum cleaner 1, with the dust collecting container 4 being fully removed. After emptying the dust collecting container 4 it can be mounted to the cyclone vacuum cleaner body 9 again.

Coming now to the mechanism provided for coupling or uncoupling, mounting or dismounting the dust collecting chamber 4 to the cyclone vacuum cleaner body 9 .

In FIG. 3 and also in FIG. 4 which shows a perspective front view of the cyclone vacuum cleaner body 9 it can be seen that the cyclone vacuum cleaner 1 further comprises a mounting support 10 adapted to at least partially receive and accommodate the dust collecting container 4 in the assembled state. In the present case, the mounting support 10 is implemented as a concave shaped interface adapted in its shape to the convex shape of the dust collecting container 4, in particular compartment

For coupling the dust collecting container 4 to the mountm support 10, there is provided a detent mechanism which will described in more detail below.

The detent mechanism in the present example of a cyclone vacuum cleaner 1 comprises two spring loaded locking levers 11 (see e.g. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5) adapted to establish a locking engagement between the dust collecting container 4 and the mounting support 10. Detent elements 17 protruding from and into the mounting support 10 can be seen in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, and also in FIG. 5 to FIG. 8.

Details of the design and function of the locking levers 11 can in particular be derived from FIG. 5 to FIG. 8, respectively showing cross-sections of first to fourth details in connection with the detent mechanism.

From FIG. 5 it can be seen, that the locking levers 11 are implemented as tilting levers. Each locking lever 11 is pivotable about a pivot axis which is defined by a fin and notch bearing. In the present implementation, the locking lever 11 comprises a notch 12 in which a fin 13 loosely engages. The fin 13 may be implemented on or at a section of the mounting support 10 or on or at another nearby section or element of the cyclone vacuum cleaner body 9.

The locking levers 11 respectively comprise a first lever arm 14 which extends from one side of the pivot axis . The first lever arm 14 is loaded with a spring force generated by a biasing spring 15. The point of action of the biasing spring 15 on the first lever arm 14 is located towards an end section of the first lever arm 14 distant from the pivot axis. The biasing spring 15 may be fixed by fixing and/or guiding elements provided in or at the first lever arm 14, on or at the mounting support 10 and/or on or at nearby sections of the cyclone vacuum cleaner body 9.

The locking levers 11 further respectively comprise a second lever arm 16 extending from the other side of the pivot axis, in opposite direction to the first lever arm 14. The second lever arm 16 comprises a detent element 17. The detent element 17 in the present case is implemented as a protrusion or cam lobe, in particular as a wedge-shaped protrusion, comprising, with respect to the lengthwise direction of the tilting lever 11, several slanted outer surfaces.

The point of action of the biasing spring 15 and the detent ele ^¬ ment 17 in the present case are provided at the same side of the tilting lever. The notch 12 is located at the side averted from point of action and detent element 17 approximately in a middle section of the tilting lever 11 with respect to its longitudinal direction .

The tilting lever 11 is slightly bent with regard to the length ^¬ wise direction such that abutment faces 18 of the tilting lever 11 abut against stop faces 19 provided on the mounting support 10 or a section of the cyclone vacuum cleaner body 9 in the locked as well as fully retracted state of the tilting lever 11. Note that it is not mandatory that the tilting lever is bent. A respective restriction to the pivoting movement of the tilting lever 11 can also be obtained by other means, in particular stop elements and the like.

The biasing spring 15 acts upon the tilting lever 11 such that the detent element 17 is urged to the locking configuration or position, which in particular can be derived from FIG. 5.

The detent element 17 is adapted to couple to or with a corre ^¬ sponding complementary counter detent element 20 provided or implemented at an outer wall section of the dust collecting con- tainer 4. The counter detent element 20 is in its shape comple ^¬ mentary to the detent element 17. Therefore, in the present case, the counter detent element 20 is implemented as a recess, comprising slanted inner surfaces . As becomes obvious from the figures, in particular from FIG. 5 to FIG. 8, the locking levers 11 in the present case are implemented as self-locking and self-releasing levers. This in particular means that by applying a pulling or pushing force to the dust collecting container 4, a coupling engagement between the detent element 17 and counter detent element 20 can be cancelled or established, respectively. It is not necessary or mandatory that the user performs additional actions, such as pressing push-buttons, unlocking elements or unlocking buttons and the like. Therefore, the proposed detent mechanism is highly user- friendly .

As already mentioned, the detent element 17 and counter detent element 20 comprise corresponding tilted or inclined coupling surfaces. As can be seen from FIG. 5 to FIG. 8, the tilted or inclined coupling surfaces are implemented such that the dust collecting container 4 is urged towards its ordinary working position. This in particular means that the dust collecting container 4 is urged towards the mounting support 10, in particular in such a way that a tight connection between the dust outlet 7 and dust inlet 8 can be established. In the present case, the coupling surfaces are provided and oriented in different, in particular three different, directions such that the detent mechanism generates urging forces having components in vertical and horizontal directions, respectively.

As has been described further above, the dust collecting container can be coupled and uncoupled to or from the mounting support 10 by simply applying a pulling or pushing force to the dust collecting container 4, which now shall be more clear due to the configuration of the detent mechanism as described above.

Applying a pulling or pushing force to the dust collecting container 4 directed forth or back with respect to the vertical longitudinal extension of the cyclone vacuum cleaner 1 in the present case results in a tilting movement of the dust collect ^¬ ing container 4.

The tilting movement of the dust collecting container 4 in the present case results inter alia from the fact that a coupling unit is provided at the lower side of the mounting support 10 and the bottom wall of the dust collecting container 4, which coupling unit defines at least local tilt axes. In more detail, the coupling unit comprises a conical type protrusion 21 (see FIG. 3), and the dust collecting container 4 comprises at the outer bottom wall a corresponding depression (not shown) . In mounting the dust collecting container 4 to the mounting support 10, the depression is first coupled to the protrusion 21. This will fix at least the bottom of the dust collecting container 4 and prevent displacements in directions parallel to the bottom face of the dust collecting container 4. This situation applies for example for the satiation shown in FIG. 2.

The design and interaction between depression and protrusion 21 is such that the dust collecting container 4 can still be tilted after coupling the depression and protrusion 21. Hence, by applying a force towards the back of the cyclone vacuum cleaner 1 via the handle 6, the dust collecting container 4 tilts towards the back, i.e. towards the mounting support 10, wherein the de- pression and protrusion 21 at least locally define a tilt axis.

By further pushing the dust collecting container 4 towards the mounting support 10, the detent elements 17 and counter detent elements 20 finally engage in that the detent element 17 first is moved back against the action of the biasing spring 15, and then snaps into or engages the corresponding counter detent ele ^¬ ment 20.

Removing the dust collecting container 4 goes the other way round. First a pulling force in forth direction of the cyclone vacuum cleaner 1 is applied to the dust collecting container 4. Through the action of this force, the detent elements 17 are pushed back. Here, the slanted surfaces of the detent elements 17 and counter detent elements 20 help to move the detent ele- ments 17 out of corresponding counter detent elements 20. This movement goes along with a tilting movement of the dust collecting container away from the cyclone vacuum cleaner body 9 or mounting support 10. After the point at which the detent mechanisms release and after sufficiently tilting the dust collecting container 4 away from the cyclone vacuum cleaner body 9 or mounting support 10, the dust collecting container 4 can be lifted from the cyclone vacuum cleaner body 9. In lifting the dust collecting container 4, the coupling interaction of the coupling unit is cancelled, i.e. the depression is moved or lifted from the protrusion 21. This is the situation as shown in FIG. 3. Now the dust collecting container can be freely moved and emptied.

It already becomes clear, the dust collecting unit can be han- died in a comparatively easy and user-friendly way.

Turning now to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, respectively showing the cyclone vacuum cleaner 1 in a first and second operational state. The operational states correspond to an additional action or function which can be carried out with the dust collecting container 4 by a user .

The additional action or function is compacting dust within the dust collecting container 4, or in more detail the compartment 5. This function is of advantage, as dust accumulates relatively loosely within the dust collecting container 4 and it would be desirable for effective cyclone dust separation to collect as much dust as possible in the bottom section of the compartment 5. Compacting dust in the present case involves an action of pushing a piston, or something similar, arranged within the com- partment 5 of the dust collecting container 4 downwards, i. e. towards the bottom. By this, dust distributed over the whole compartment 5 is compacted at the bottom of the compartment 5. The dust compacting action in the present case is carried out via the handle 6, which in a first step is folded upwards as depicted in FIG. 9. In this stage, the detent mechanism securely couples the dust collecting container 4 to the mounting support 10, in particular in such a way that the next step of compacting the dust can be carried out without disengaging the detent mechanism. This next step consists of pressing the handle 6 downwards by which the piston is moved towards the bottom of the compartment 5, which situation is shown in FIG. 10. By this, dust contained in the compartment 5 is compacted at the bottom section of the dust collecting container 4. Afterwards, the handle 6 can be retracted and folded back again, as is depicted in FIG. 1.

Here it shall be mentioned, that the detent mechanism not only allows a user friendly operation for emptying the dust collecting container 4, but also provides coupling forces sufficiently high for carrying out all necessary operations, such as dust compacting, on the cyclone vacuum cleaner 1 and dust collector unit 4.

In all, it can be seen, that the proposed cyclone vacuum cleaner 1 provides a comparatively simple and user friendly way of handling and operating the dust collecting unit. List of reference numerals

1 cyclone vacuum cleaner

2 cyclone dust separator

3 secondary stage dust separator

4 dust collecting container

5 compartment

6 handle

7 dust outlet

8 dust inlet

9 cyclone vacuum cleaner body

10 mounting support

11 locking lever

12 notch

13 fin

14 first lever arm

15 biasing spring

16 second lever arm

17 detent element

18 abutment face

19 stop face

20 counter detent element

21 protrusion