Another idea for a breach or valve seal?

I don’t know if this will be of any use to anyone, but here goes….

I was repairing my wife’s favorite teamaker which had developed a small leak due to some tea residue buildup on the seal when I thought maybe you guys might find a use for how they designed the seal.

It is a silcon seal that is sealed with a large steel ball.
Not that the ball idea will be of much use, but I thought the seal itself may have applications. (????)
(FYI, the ball is pushed up from below the seal to allow the brewed tea to automatically run into a cup placed below when set on the cup. This is a small mug with a built in screen, this ball and the seal are below it…)

The interesting part of it is that they cut a small channel around the upper part of the seal where the ball rests to make it more resiliant to the weight of the ball.
Perhaps another way of sealing the breach or a valve?