Ground Sheet with Sand Guard and Canopy Tent Support

Abstract

New forms of ground-covering sheets, and other devices, systems and methods providing protection from sand, dust, debris, and fluids are provided. In some aspects of the invention, ground-covering sheets with an integral vertical guard, provided around a periphery of such ground-covering sheets, are provided. In several embodiments, specialized ground-covering sheets are provided with reinforced, specialized sections configured to receive and hold tent legs and other rigid members parts of structures mounted in, on or about such ground-covering sheets. In some such embodiments, such reinforced, specialized sections include specialized reversible fasteners for interfacing with and holding feet of the tent legs. In other embodiments, the ground-covering sheets are configured to reversibly conjoin with auxiliary components, such as a fluid-holding basin provided below such a ground-covering sheet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ground-covering sheet comprising:
 a flat, upper surface;   a sand guard standing above outer edge of said sheet, and wherein said sand guard is attached to and/or integral with said flat, upper surface and comprises a top edge and a lower area;   at least one reinforced, specialized section(s), on or about a corner of said flat, upper surface, wherein said at least one reinforced, specialized section(s) comprises a structural member comprising a stiff or semi-rigid durable material;   wherein the structural member is at least generally vertically oriented, and wherein said top edge is not fully supported by said structural member; and   wherein the at least one reinforced, specialized section(s), on or about a corner of said flat, upper surface, comprise a reinforced tent foot accepting pocket, comprising wall(s), a reinforced base platform and an open top.   
     
     
         2 . The ground-covering sheet of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reinforced, specialized section(s) each comprises a fastener, configured to attach to a tent leg connected with said tent foot. 
     
     
         3 . The ground-covering sheet of  claim 2 , wherein the fastener comprises a strap, configured to wrap around and hold said tent leg. 
     
     
         4 . The ground-covering sheet of  claim 2 , wherein said strap comprises a reversible fastener. 
     
     
         5 . The ground-covering sheet of  claim 4 , wherein said reversible fastener comprises a snap, a zipper and/or a hook-and-loop fastener. 
     
     
         6 . The ground-covering sheet of  claim 2 , wherein said fastener comprises a trench having an overhang configured to cover at least part of said tent foot. 
     
     
         7 . The ground-covering sheet of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one reinforced, specialized section(s) comprise a plurality of reinforced, specialized sections, and wherein at least one of said plurality of reinforced, specialized sections is located on or about at a corner of said sheet. 
     
     
         8 . The ground-covering sheet of  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of reinforced, specialized sections are located at a plurality of corners of the sheet. 
     
     
         9 . The ground-covering sheet of  claim 1 , wherein said structural member is a stake, configured to penetrate a ground. 
     
     
         10 . The ground-covering sheet of  claim 1 , wherein said flat, upper surface comprises a material suitable for absorbing and/or wicking away moisture from a human body. 
     
     
         11 . The ground-covering sheet of  claim 10 , wherein said flat, upper surface comprises a material comprises a plurality of loops. 
     
     
         12 . The ground-covering sheet of  claim 1 , wherein said sand guard lines a periphery of said ground-covering sheet. 
     
     
         13 . The ground-covering sheet of  claim 1 , comprising a basin configured to hold liquids extending below said flat, upper surface of said sheet and attached to said structural member. 
     
     
         14 . The ground-covering sheet of  claim 1 , wherein said structural member comprises a reversibly sealed flexible structure comprising an inflatable void and an air valve. 
     
     
         15 . The ground-covering sheet of  claim 1 , wherein said ground-covering sheet comprises a bottom, comprising a water-proof or water-resistant material. 
     
     
         16 . A portable shelter comprising:
 a ground-covering sheet;   rigid legs;   feet; and   a canopy, supported by said legs;   wherein said ground-covering sheet comprises:   a flat, upper surface;
 a sand guard standing above outer edge of said sheet, and wherein said sand guard is attached to and/or integral with said flat, upper surface and comprises a top edge and a lower area; 
 at least one reinforced, specialized section(s), on or about a corner of said flat, upper surface, wherein said at least one reinforced, specialized section(s) comprises a structural member comprising a stiff or semi-rigid durable material; 
 wherein the structural member is at least generally vertically oriented, and wherein said top edge is not fully supported by said structural member; and 
 wherein the at least one reinforced, specialized section(s), on or about a corner of said flat, upper surface, comprise a reinforced tent foot accepting pocket, comprising wall(s), a reinforced base platform and an open top. 
   
     
     
         17 . The portable shelter of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one reinforced, specialized section(s) each comprises a fastener, configured to attach to a tent leg connected with said tent foot. 
     
     
         18 . The portable shelter of  claim 17 , wherein the fastener comprises a strap comprising a reversible fastener, wherein said strap is configured to wrap around and hold said tent leg. 
     
     
         19 . The portable shelter of  claim 17 , wherein the fastener comprises a trench comprising an overhang configured hold said tent leg. 
     
     
         20 . The ground-covering sheet of  claim 16 , wherein said sand guard lines a periphery of said ground-covering sheet.