Patent ID: 8904569

Claim:
An apparatus for distributing pressure from at least a first strap end portion and a second strap end portion knotted to one another, the apparatus comprising: a first flexible sheet having a first surface, the first surface having a first area for resting against a wearer; a second flexible sheet fastened to the first flexible sheet to form an envelope, the envelope being stuffed with a filler material; the second flexible sheet having a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface for supporting the strap end portions over a second area, the second area being a portion of a total area of the second surface that comes into contact with the strap end portions, the first area being larger than the second area such that a first pressure applied by the first surface on the wearer is less than a second pressure applied by the strap end portions on the second surface, the filler material being compressible in response to the second pressure; and a securing mechanism for securing the strap end portions over the second area, the securing mechanism having a first strap aperture configured to receive the first strap end portion therethrough; a second strap aperture configured to receive the second strap end portion therethrough; and a knot aperture extending through the first and second areas, the knot aperture disposed between the first and second strap apertures and on a substantially straight line extending from a center of the first strap aperture to a center of the second strap aperture, the knot aperture for receiving the knot therein to position the knot within the knot aperture.