<style>
.container {
  width: 100px;
  height: 45px;
  font-size: 10px;
  color: transparent;
  font-family: Ahem;
  background-color: green;
  clear: both;
}

.out_of_flow {
  display: inline;
  width: 25px;
  height: 25px;
  background-color: blue;
  position: absolute;
}

.floater {
  float: left;
  width: 50px;
  height: 45px;
  background-color: transparent;
}
</style>
<div class=container><div class=floater></div>some<br>text<br><div class=out_of_flow></div>
<div class=container><div class=floater style="float: right"></div>some<br>text<br><div class=out_of_flow></div>
<div class=container style="direction: rtl"><div class=floater style="float: right"></div>some<br>text<br><div class=out_of_flow></div>