Abstract: A reinforcing member is provided within the handle portion of a wooden bat to prevent the heavy barrel portion from separating from the handle and flying through the air with possible injury to onlookers in the event of bat breakage upon impact with a ball. The reinforcing member is of less stiffness than is the wood of the bat so as to not change the flexing characteristics of the bat and is of small diameter and low specific gravity so as to avoid noticeable change in the weight and balance of the bat.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine (20) has a plurality of pistons (106) reciprocating within cylinders (34) and means to translate the reciprocating motion of said pistons into rotary motion. As the cylinders (34) rotate in an engine cavity (49) about a drive shaft (24), head ends (104) of the cylinders (34) cyclically pass stationary fuel injection means (28) and a stationary exhaust aperture (30) located rotationally downstream from the fuel injection means (28). Each cylinder (34) includes a cylinder wall having an air intake port (130) provided therein. The air intake port (130) is provided at a location at which rotation of the cylinder (34) in the cavity (49) tends to force or scoop air into the cylinder (34). In particular, the air intake port (130) is provided on a rotationally leading portion of a peripheral portion of the cylinder wall.