Patent ID: 8464904

Claim:
A method of reducing spillage when pouring liquid out of a container, the method comprising the following steps: (a). firstly, providing a free floating buoyant member situated in a resilient deformable container adapted for containing liquid, the liquid being of greater density than the density of the member such that the member floats upon the surface of the liquid, the container having a liquid flow passage narrower than the dimensions of the member such that the member is prevented from exiting through the liquid flow passage; (b). secondly, exerting a force to temporarily deform the container thereby reducing the volume of an inner cavity thereof and causing the liquid in the container to press the member into a position sealing the liquid flow passage; (c). thirdly, while manually carrying the container, inverting the container thereby placing the container into a pouring position; and (d). fourthly, while continuing to manually carry the container, releasing the force upon the container such that the container resiliently resumes its original shape, thereby increasing the volume of the inner cavity and causing the member to float away from the liquid flow passage such that liquid freely passes through the liquid flow passage; (e). fifthly, while continuing to manually carry the container, continuing to freely pass liquid through the liquid flow passage with the container inverted until liquid within the container approaches or reaches a level no longer sufficient to keep the member floating at a distance spaced entirely from the liquid flow passage, leaving only a thin coating of residual liquid clinging to one or more walls of the container; (f). sixthly, while continuing to manually carry the container, and while keeping the container inverted after completion of steps (a) through (e), applying a force to the container to induce movement of the buoyant member and thereby prevent the member from becoming or remaining fully seated at the position sealing the liquid flow passage to allow the residual liquid to drain from the container through the liquid flow passage; and (g). seventhly, while continuing to manually carry the container, and having successfully prevented the member from becoming or remaining fully seated at the position sealing the liquid flow passage in step (f), continually applying repeated forces to the container to keep the member from coming to rest and to continually maintain move the member within the container and thereby continually maintain open the liquid flow passage and achieve further draining of the residual liquid from the container therethrough.