Abstract: Content provided directly by users, such as renters in the real estate industry, is relied on to supplement, enhance and improve the relevance of the site. The renters themselves generate the content in the form of reviews, not the apartments' management companies, for example, which provides less perceived bias in the information provided. An incentive for renters is provided to enter such a space, not only to obtain unbiased information about apartments, but also to accumulate reward points that they can then exchange against various goods or services, and to add content and accumulate points as a result. Thus, a method of user-generated exchange of community information comprises registering information about a user, recording search criteria for services sought by the user, recording feedback of the user about the services used and about service providers, and allowing the user to access feedback from other users.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for generating small-scale hydropower from a home water supply. As contemplated herein, a hydro-powered system battery charger may produce electric power from the flow of water from a domestic water service. Power is generated as water from a domestic water source passes through a system housing. The water drives a Pelton wheel located within a cavity in the housing. As the Pelton wheel rotates, it drives a gear driven generator. A battery may store the energy generated thereby to satisfy concurrent or later demand.

Abstract: A container for storing and dispensing fluids includes a container body having an upwardly extending annular neck portion defining a container opening and terminating into an annular rim having a generally flat, upwardly facing sealing surface and an inwardly extending flange. A separate spout member includes an annular wall having an inwardly extending portion defining a pour spout and an outwardly extending lip at one end thereof, wherein the lip includes a downwardly facing sealing surface. The annular wall also includes an outwardly extending shoulder below the lip for engaging the rim flange, wherein the annular wall is configured to be received within the container opening and wherein the annular wall shoulder is capable of being snap-fit over the rim flange to create a seal between said rim sealing surface and said lip sealing surface. The container also includes a removable lid that threadedly engages the container neck.

Abstract: A novel method for sealing a plastic closure to a container flange using an elastomeric gasket. A plurality of annular sealing bands are positioned on the diametric sealing surface of the closure on which the gasket rests. As the closure is threaded into the container, the annular sealing bands become embedded within the gasket to improve the seal and overcome the negative sealing effects of the parting line flash present on the closure portion of the seal gland as a result of the manufacturing process.

Abstract: A Voltage Range Detection Circuit (VRDC) (8) determines the supply voltage range of the integrated circuit. In general, voltage detector (10) determines the voltage level of supply voltage V.sub.DD and stores the result of this determination in storage (12). Resistor network (14), which receives the stored result, configures itself in the proper resistor configuration for the determined supplied voltage such that a compare signal is generated that represents a Variable Low Voltage Detection (VLVD) switch point. Resistor network (14) outputs this generated VLVD switch point signal to a first input of comparator (18) to be compared with the constant level reference voltage output by voltage reference (16) at a second input of comparator (18). When the output of resistor network (14) drops below the reference voltage provided by voltage reference (16), comparator (18) outputs a reset signal to disable the chip because a low voltage condition has occurred.