Retracting Toybox Assembly

Abstract

A retracting toy box assembly includes a box for storing toys, and the box has a track that is integrated therein. A spool is slidably coupled to the track, and the spool is positionable between a stored position and a deployed position. The spool is biased to rotate in a first direction and the spool is urgeable to rotate in a second direction. A mat is wrapped around the spool. The mat is unwrapped from the spool and extends forwardly from the box when the spool is positioned in the deployed position. In this way the mat can lie on the floor and toys can be positioned on the mat. Moreover, the mat can be lifted by a caregiver thereby facilitating all of the toys on the mat to be subsequently deposited in the box. In this way the mat assists the caregiver with putting the toys away.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A retracting toy box assembly having a play mat being retractably coupled thereto for automatically urging toys into a toy box, said assembly comprising:
 a box for storing toys, said box having a track being integrated therein;   a lid being hingedly coupled to said box for opening and closing said box;   a spool being slidably coupled to said track, said spool being positionable between a stored position having said spool being positioned within said box and a deployed position having said spool being positioned outside of said box, said spool being biased to rotate in a first direction, said spool being urgeable to rotate in a second direction; and   a mat being wrapped around said spool said mat being unwrapped from said spool and extending forwardly from said box when said spool is positioned in said deployed position wherein said mat is configured to lie on the floor having toys being positioned thereon, said mat being lifted by a caregiver and lifted and an upwardly angle with said box thereby facilitating all of the toys on said mat to slide into said box wherein said mat is configured to assist the caregiver with putting the toys away.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said box has a bottom wall and a perimeter wall extending upwardly therefrom, said perimeter wall having a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a front side, a back side and a distal edge with respect to said bottom wall defining an opening into said box, said front side being recessed with respect to each of said first and second lateral sides to define an exposed surface and a leading edge of each of said first and second lateral sides, said front side having a height being less than a height of said first and second lateral sides. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said track comprises a first slot extending into said exposed surface of said first lateral side, said first slot extending upwardly from said bottom wall having said first slot being positioned between said leading edge of said first lateral side and said front side, said first slot curving over said distal edge of said front side and extending downwardly behind said front side, said first slot having a terminal end being positioned behind said front side. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly according to  claim 3 , further comprising a second slot extending into said exposed surface of said second lateral side, said second slot extending upwardly from said bottom wall having said second slot being positioned between said leading edge of said second lateral side and said front side, said second slot curving over said distal edge of said front side and extending downwardly behind said front side, said second slot having a terminal end being positioned behind said front side, said second slot being aligned with said first slot. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said lid having a bottom surface and a back edge, said back edge being hingedly coupled to said distal edge of said back side of said perimeter wall of said box, said bottom surface resting on said distal edge of said perimeter wall when said lid is closed. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 said spool is longitudinally elongated;   said spool slidably engages each of said first and second slots in said first and second lateral sides of said perimeter wall of said box such that said spool is horizontally oriented;   said spool abutting said terminal end of each of said first and second slots when said spool is positioned in said stored position; and   said spool is positioned on said exposed surface of each of said first and second lateral sides and having said spool being aligned with said bottom wall when said spool is positioned in said deployed position.   
     
     
         7 . The assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 said mat is unwrapped from said spool when said spool rotates in said first direction, said mat being gripped and unwrapped from said spool thereby urging said spool to rotate in said second direction, said mat having a distal edge with respect to said spool; and   a handle being pivotally coupled to said mat for gripping, said handle having a member being spaced from said distal edge of said mat thereby facilitating said member to be gripped for unwrapping said mat from said spool and for lifting said mat for putting the toys away.   
     
     
         8 . A retracting toy box assembly having a play mat being retractably coupled thereto for automatically urging toys into a toy box, said assembly comprising:
 a box for storing toys, said box having a bottom wall and a perimeter wall extending upwardly therefrom, said perimeter wall having a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a front side, a back side and a distal edge with respect to said bottom wall defining an opening into said box, said front side being recessed with respect to each of said first and second lateral sides to define an exposed surface and a leading edge of each of said first and second lateral sides, said front side having a height being less than a height of said first and second lateral sides, said box having a track being integrated therein, said track comprising:
 a first slot extending into said exposed surface of said first lateral side, said first slot extending upwardly from said bottom wall having said first slot being positioned between said leading edge of said first lateral side and said front side, said first slot curving over said distal edge of said front side and extending downwardly behind said front side, said first slot having a terminal end being positioned behind said front side; and 
 a second slot extending into said exposed surface of said second lateral side, said second slot extending upwardly from said bottom wall having said second slot being positioned between said leading edge of said second lateral side and said front side, said second slot curving over said distal edge of said front side and extending downwardly behind said front side, said second slot having a terminal end being positioned behind said front side, said second slot being aligned with said first slot; 
   a lid being hingedly coupled to said box for opening and closing said box, said lid having a bottom surface and a back edge, said back edge being hingedly coupled to said distal edge of said back side of said perimeter wall of said box, said bottom surface resting on said distal edge of said perimeter wall when said lid is closed;   a spool being slidably coupled to said track, said spool being positionable between a stored position having said spool being positioned within said box and a deployed position having said spool being positioned outside of said box, said spool being biased to rotate in a first direction, said spool being urgeable to rotate in a second direction, said spool being longitudinally elongated, said spool slidably engaging each of said first and second slots in said first and second lateral sides of said perimeter wall of said box such that said spool is horizontally oriented, said spool abutting said terminal end of each of said first and second slots when said spool is positioned in said stored position, said spool being positioned on said exposed surface of each of said first and second lateral sides and having said spool being aligned with said bottom wall when said spool is positioned in said deployed position; and   a mat being wrapped around said spool said mat being unwrapped from said spool and extending forwardly from said box when said spool is positioned in said deployed position wherein said mat is configured to lie on the floor having toys being positioned thereon, said mat being lifted by a caregiver and lifted and an upwardly angle with said box thereby facilitating all of the toys on said mat to slide into said box wherein said mat is configured to assist the caregiver with putting the toys away, said mat having a distal edge with respect to said spool; and   a handle being pivotally coupled to said mat for gripping, said handle having a member being spaced from said distal edge of said mat thereby facilitating said member to be gripped for unwrapping said mat from said spool and for lifting said mat for putting the toys away.