New forms of sand-resistant towels, mats, and other textiles, devices, systems and methods are provided. In some aspects of the invention, a beach towel or mat with an inherent sand guard at its edge, and around its periphery, is provided. In other aspects, the guard comprises an internal inflatable skeleton, optimized to demark a home base and prevent small children from wandering from a play area on or about the home base. In still other aspects, the towel or mat is configured for packing and toting by folding and rolling techniques, and the towel or mat presents specialized packing, toting and other devices, such as a sealable pocket(s), reversible self-holding strap(s) and a shoulder strap(s), when so folded and rolled. In several embodiments, the profile and component material(s) of the towel or mat are also specialized to prevent the influx and retention of sand and other loose ground particles.

A portable expandable device with a contracting mechanism which allows for many forms of recreational products and structures to be expanded, reinforced in the expanded shape, and then contracted easily to regain its portable form. The expansion means is exercised by the use of at least one of the following, resiliently extending, unfolding, inflating, as to become an expanding form which can then be easily retracted to the redeployed form. The retraction mechanism reverses the expansion process utilizing a mechanism which sequentially exerts the forces needed in the proper locations in order to ensure proper contraction. Disclosed embodiments utilized supplemental structural reinforcement of the expanded form through the use of joints, releasable interlocks, latching mechanisms, air bladders, to ensure the form is stable and usable. The objective being a stable structure with a rapid and easy deployment and a supplemental retraction means as to be easily transportable.

A backpack picnic bag assembly including a tablecloth having a substantially rectangular main body foldable to form utensil storage compartments. Storage compartments may be defined and separated from one another by spaced apart lines of stitching running substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the main body. In other embodiments, storage compartments may be defined and separated from one another by spaced apart lines of hook and loop fastener strips running substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the main body. A storage bag with one or more straps holds the tablecloth and any items held within the compartments when folded.

A folding ground cover assembly that can automatically pop open when released. The ground cover assembly has a fabric panel that is selectively supported by a detachable support mesh. The support mesh has a peripheral band that surrounds an open central area. Various cross straps extend across the open central area between points along the peripheral band. A spring wire engages the peripheral band of the support mesh and biases the peripheral band into an open, flat configuration. A first plurality of fasteners is disposed on the support mesh that engages a second plurality of fasteners on the underside of the fabric panel. The fasteners are used to connect the fabric panel to the support mesh, wherein the fabric panel covers the open central area and the fabric panel is supported by the cross straps.

A comfortable inflatable pillow, manufactured to be affordably priced, designed to withstand the weather challenges associated with beaches, and other outdoor settings, by utilizing soft fabric that wicks away water and sheds sand, that has an attached pouch that can be filled with sand, or other weighted objects, to prevent the pillow from being blown around in windy conditions, that contains an internal pocket that can accommodate a tailor-made cooling and heating gel pack for hot or cold external temperatures, and that provides an optional incline position for added comfort when reading or surveying the landscape.

A modular portable bedding system that emulates the home sleeping experience as much as possible, where users can easily remove or change different components to customize the system to optimize the sleeping experience for the environment they plan on using it in, while still allowing the user to easily transport the customized bedding system. The bedding system of the present invention may include four main components: a base shell, a sleeping pad, a sheet layer and an insulation layer, and in a more specific configuration, the bedding system of the present invention may have the base shell, the sleeping pad, a fitted sheet and a standard sheet in the sheet layer, a down quilt and synthetic quilt in the insulation layer and a top layer.

A plush children's lounge is provided. The lounge includes a sidewall connected to a base. The lounge is convertible between an open configuration and a closed configuration and a fastener is provided. When the fastener is connected, the lounge defines a closed configuration having a reduced length and suitable for portability. Backpack straps are provided so that the lounge can be carried on the back. The sidewall is resilient such that the lounge springs into the open configuration when the fastener is released. When in the open configuration, a child can recline inside the lounge. Scallops in the sidewall serve as a headrest for the lounger and a plush toy head with eyes is connected to the lounge such that the child can see the plush toy while lying in the lounge. The lounge further includes arms and legs that resemble an animal or other creature.

A compact, lightweight beach towel assembly including a ground cover and circumscribing sidewall having an elastomeric band, the ground cover weighted with sand bags, optionally including flexible rods.

A beach blanket assembly for securing a blanket on a support surface includes a blanket that can be laid on a support surface thereby facilitating a user to sit on the blanket. A barrier is attached to and surrounds the blanket to inhibit debris from blowing onto the blanket. A plurality of sleeves is provided, each of the sleeves is coupled to the barrier and each of the sleeves is positioned in a respective one of four corners of the barrier. A plurality of spikes is each extendable through the blanket to penetrate the support surface and retain the blanket on the support surface.