Patent Publication Number: US-7900966-B1

Title: Valet parking envelope and method of use

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This Non-Provisional Utility application claims benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/073,178, filed on Jun. 17, 2008, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to valet parking and more particularly, to valet parking envelopes, which prevent the misplacement of keys for vehicles. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Valet parking requires that the keys of a vehicle be associated with a vehicle and a location in which the vehicle is parked. Valet parking is done in a variety of ways, but it is not uncommon for a vehicle owner to hand over their keys to a valet driver at the entrance of a complex. The valet driver parks the vehicle and some how associates the keys with a vehicle. When the vehicle owner wants their vehicle back, someone from the valet company gives the keys back to the owner of the vehicle. However, it appears that the prior art lacks any foolproof method of ensuring that the keys get associated with the proper vehicle and the vehicle is associated with the rightful owner. 
     One such association is the use of a segmented tag. The tag includes three subsections: (1) a tag which gets affixed to the vehicle&#39;s rear view mirror, (2) a portion which is fastened to the keys, and (3) a receipt which is handed to the vehicle&#39;s owner. The tag lacks any identification of the vehicle&#39;s owner. The tag lacks any identification for damage on the vehicle. There is a risk of the key becoming disassociated from the identification tag. The keys are then placed upon a wall comprising a plurality of hooks, whereby the attendant is required to search through the multiple sets of keys to find the set of keys associated with the provided receipt. 
     Accordingly, there is an established need for a valet parking envelope, which ensures that vehicle keys are associated with the vehicle and the vehicle is associated with the owner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed to a valet parking envelope, which provides an envelope that ensures vehicle keys are associated with the vehicle and the vehicle is associated with the owner. 
     In one general aspect of the present invention, the valet parking envelope includes areas for printing the vehicle owner, the make of the vehicle, the model of the vehicle, the color of the vehicle, the license plate number, owner contact information and the identity of the valet driver on one side of the envelope. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the valet parking envelope includes a top, left side and right side views of the vehicle for identifying areas of previous damage on the other side of the envelope. 
     In a further aspect of the present invention, the valet parking envelope includes an identification number. 
     In yet a further object of the present invention, the valet parking envelope includes two stubs that are removably attached to a bottom of the envelope. 
     In yet a further object of the present invention, the valet parking envelope includes a string for attachment of a vehicle key. 
     In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a plurality of used and unused valet parking envelopes are preferably stored in a storage box having a plurality of partitions. 
     These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawing and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, where like designations denote like elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a storage box for retaining a plurality of used and unused valet parking envelopes; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a valet parking envelope retaining a vehicle key with a string; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of a valet parking envelope retaining a vehicle key with a string; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a storage box, which retains a valet parking envelope in an upright position; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a storage box with a stack of valet parking envelopes containing keys and two stacks of valet parking envelopes without keys; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a storage box with a perforated lid positioned above thereof for retaining a plurality of valet parking envelopes; and 
         FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of a storage box with a perforated lid position above and on a bottom thereof for retaining a plurality of valet parking envelopes with and without keys. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Shown throughout figures, the present invention is generally directed to a valet parking envelope  10 . With reference to  FIGS. 2-3 , the valet parking envelope  10  includes a front panel  12  and a rear panel  14  sealed together along each of a left and a right edge, as well as along a lower region. The front panel  12  of the valet parking envelope  10  preferably includes an identification number  16 , vehicle owner area  18 , a date/time area  20 , a vehicle make/model area  22 , a color area  24 , a license plate area  26 , emergency contact area  28  and a valet drive area  30 . It is understood the markings can alternately be included on the rear panel  14 . A vehicle tag  32  and an owner coupon  34  are removably attached to a bottom of the valet parking envelope  10 . The valet attendant can include a reference identification of the parking location of the vehicle on the valet parking envelope  10 . It is understood the vehicle tag  32  and owner coupon  34  can be removably attached to a side edge or the edge of a flap  40  of the valet parking envelope  10 . 
     The owner&#39;s name is written in the vehicle owner area  18 . The date and time that the vehicle is received by the valet attendant is written in the date/time area  20 . The make and model of the vehicle is written in the vehicle make/model area  22 . The color of the vehicle is written in the color area  24 . The license plate number is written in the license plate area  26 . The name and phone number of an emergency contact person is written in the emergency contact area  28 . The valet driver writes their name into the valet driver area  30 . The vehicle tag  32  includes the identification number  16 . The vehicle tag  32  can be placed upon or left within the vehicle or given to the owner of the vehicle. The owner coupon  34  also includes the identification number  16  and preferably includes a discount on the purchase of goods or services from at least one business. 
     The rear panel  14  of the valet parking envelope  10  includes a right side image of a vehicle  36 , a top image of a vehicle  38  and a left side image a vehicle  40 . Any vehicle damage is marked on any of the vehicle images  36 ,  38 , and  40 . It is understood the markings can alternately be included on the front panel  12 . The valet parking envelope  10  further includes a flap  40  and a metal clasp  42 . A clasp hole  44  is formed through the flap  40  to receive the metal clasp  42 . Two adhesive strips  46  are preferably formed on the flap  40  for sealing to the rear panel  14 . One end of a length of string  47  is attached to the valet parking envelope  10  with any suitable method. The other end of the string  47  is tied to the vehicle key  100 . The vehicle key  100  is stored in the valet parking envelope  10 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , a storage box  48  includes two side walls  50 , two end walls  52 , a bottom support  54  and at least two partitions  56 . A plurality of valet parking envelopes  10  are stored between the at least two partitions  56 . With reference to  FIGS. 6-7 , a storage box  48 ′ includes at least one envelope storage slot  58  located below the bottom support  54 . A perforated lid  60  includes two side walls  62 , two end walls  64 , a top cover  66 , and a clear insert  68 . Three openings  70  are preferably formed through the top cover  66 . The clear insert  68  is attached to a bottom of the top cover  66 . The three openings  70  and the clear insert  68  allow the valet parking envelopes  10  to be viewed, when the perforated lid  60  is on top of the storage box  48 ,  48 ′. An inside perimeter of the perforated lid  60  is sized to receive a top or bottom of the storage box  48 ,  48 ′. 
     The vehicle key  100  is secured to the valet parking envelope  10  via a string  47  and then placed within the interior of the valet parking envelope  10 . The vehicle tag  32  and owner coupon  34  are separated from the valet parking envelope  10 , with the vehicle tag  32  placed inside the vehicle, and the owner coupon  34  given to the vehicle&#39;s owner. The valet parking envelope  10  is then inserted into the storage box  48 ,  48 ′. It is preferable that the valet parking envelope  10  is inserted in an organized manner such as an indexed order or separated by identifiers, which aid in locating a specific valet parking envelope  10 . 
     Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence.