Hand stamp and locking storage cap

1. A hand stamp assembly comprising:

a. a frame having at least one locking cut-out therein;

b. an operating member slidably mounted on the frame;

c. a platen mounted on the operating member;

d. an impression member secured to the platen, the impression member having indicia formed thereon to be stamped during use of the hand stamp assembly;

e. a spring disposed between the operating member and the frame to normally maintain the operating member in an expanded non-stamping position;

f. a locking assembly including at least one locking tab arranged on the operating member and disposed for releasable engagement with the frame to hold the operating member in a compressed position; and

g. a storage cover in which the frame is placed, disposed to engage the at least one locking tab and to push the at least one locking tab into the at least one cut-out of the frame thereby locking the operating member in a compressed position with respect to the frame upon depression of the operating member.

2. The hand stamp assembly of claim 1 , further comprising means for releasing the operating member from engagement with the frame.

3. The hand stamp assembly of claim 2 where the locking cut-out of the frame includes a lower beveled face where the locking tab engages the locking cut-out to lock the operating member in the compressed position, and the beveled face of the locking cut-out can release the locking assembly when the storage cover is removed.

4. The hand stamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the locking assembly further comprises an opening in the operating member, the at least one locking tab extending through the opening, the locking member slidably disposed in the opening of the operating member for releasable locking engagement with the frame.

5. A hand stamp assembly comprising:

a. a frame;

b. an operating member slidably mounted on the frame and having a locking tab arranged thereon disposed for releasable engagement with the frame; and

c. a storage cover in which the frame is placed disposed to force the locking tab into engagement with the frame thereby locking the operating member in a compressed position with respect to the frame upon depression of the operating member.

6. The hand stamp of claim 5 wherein the frame comprises a cut-out therein sized and shaped to receive the locking tab of the operating member and to retain the locking tab such that the operating member is retained in a compressed position with respect to the frame upon depression of the operating member.

7. The hand stamp assembly of claim 6 wherein the cut-out of the frame includes a beveled face where the locking tab engages the cut-out to lock the operating member in the compressed position and the beveled face of the cut-out facilitates returning of the hand stamp to an uncompressed position upon removal of the storage cover.

8. A hand stamp assembly comprising;

a. a frame;

b. an operating member slidably mounted on the frame;

c. a spring disposed between the operating member and the frame to bias the operating member into an expanded non-stamping position;

d. a storage cover in which the frame is placed, disposed to engage a portion of the operating member upon depression of the operating member whereby a portion of the operating member becomes engaged with a portion of the frame such that the hand stamp is locked in a compressed position.

9. The hand stamp assembly of claim 8 further comprising a platen mounted on the operating member and an impression member secured to the platen, the impression member having indicia formed thereon to be stamped during use of the hand stamp assembly.

10. The hand stamp assembly of claim 9 further comprising means for releasing the operating member from engagement with the frame such that the hand stamp can be returned to an uncompressed non-stamping position.