Abstract: A floor mat has a base formed of an elastomer. A fibrous layer insert has a peripheral margin protected by a peripheral wall and an inwardly extending overhang of the base. A flange of the base surrounds and downwardly extends from the peripheral wall and ends at a floor plane. Spaced-apart flange support ribs downwardly extend from a lower surface of the flange to the floor plane.

Abstract: A lid for a drinking cup for two having a generally circular panel of flexible material and having a circular retaining rim securing the lid to the circular rim of a drinking cup. The lid has a pair of orienting and access receptacles depending from the circular panel and having side walls sufficiently spaced to receive a drinking straw therebetween. The receptacles have drinking straw orienting walls for orientation of a pair of drinking straws within a cup. The receptacles each have a drinking straw entry wall oriented at an abrupt angle with the orienting wall and having a perforation permitting a drinking straw to be forced through the perforation and into a cup to which said lid is assembled.

Abstract: A mechanical ride safety system for automatically disabling a mechanical ride in response to a rider losing his/her grip on the ride. The mechanical ride safety system generally includes a gripping member that is grasped by a rider when the ride in in use. The gripping member includes a sensing member which is adapted to sense whether the gripping member is being grasped or has been released. A processing unit and transmitter are communicatively interconnected with the sensing member so that a signal may be transmitted when the gripping member is released. A receiver is communicatively interconnected with the control unit of the mechanical ride such that, upon receiving a signal indicating that the gripping member has been released, the control unit will automatically disable the mechanical ride to prevent injury to the rider.

Abstract: A direct injection fuel injector includes a nozzle tip having a plurality of passages allowing fluid communication between an inner nozzle tip surface portion and an outer nozzle tip surface portion and directly into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. A first group of the passages have inner surface apertures located substantially in a first common plane. A second group of the passages have inner surface apertures located substantially in at least a second common plane substantially parallel to the first common plane. The second group has more passages than the first group.

Abstract: A direct injection fuel injector includes a nozzle tip having a plurality of passages allowing fluid communication between an inner nozzle tip surface portion and an outer nozzle tip surface portion and directly into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. A first group of the passages have inner surface apertures located substantially in a first common plane. A second group of the passages have inner surface apertures located substantially in at least a second common plane substantially parallel to the first common plane. The second group has more passages than the first group.

Abstract: A variable compression ratio mechanism for an internal combustion engine that has an engine block and a crankshaft is disclosed. The variable compression ratio mechanism has a plurality of eccentric disks configured to support the crankshaft. Each of the plurality of eccentric disks has at least one cylindrical portion annularly surrounded by the engine block. The variable compression ratio mechanism also has at least one actuator configured to rotate the plurality of eccentric disks.

Abstract: A fuel injector includes a homogenous charge nozzle outlet set and a conventional nozzle outlet set controlled respectively, by first and second needle valve members. One of the needle valve members moves to an open position while the other needle valve member remains stationary for a homogeneous charge injection event. The former needle valve member stays stationary while the other needle valve member moves to an open position for a conventional injection event. One of the needle valve members is at least partially positioned in the other needle valve member. Thus, the injector can perform homogeneous charge injection events, conventional injection events, or even a mixed mode having both types of injection events in a single engine cycle.

Abstract: A fuel injector includes a homogenous charge nozzle outlet set and a conventional nozzle outlet set controlled respectively, by first and second needle valve members. One of the needle valve members moves to an open position while the other needle valve member remains stationary for a homogeneous charge injection event. The former needle valve member stays stationary while the other needle valve member moves to an open position for a conventional injection event. One of the needle valve members is at least partially positioned in the other needle valve member. Thus, the injector can perform homogeneous charge injection events, conventional injection events, or even a mixed mode having both types of injection events in a single engine cycle.