Safety harness

1. A safety harness configured to arrest a user during a fall event, said safety harness comprising:

shoulder straps;

a dorsal D-ring connected to the shoulder straps;

a waist strap; and

a weight distribution assembly interconnecting the shoulder straps proximate the dorsal D-ring and the waist strap, the weight distribution assembly being positioned proximate a user's spine when in use, the weight distribution assembly configured to be loaded in compression and transfer a significant weight from a load suspended from the dorsal D-ring from proximate the shoulder straps to proximate the waist strap.

2. The safety harness of claim 1 , wherein the weight distribution assembly includes a dorsal pad assembly interconnecting the shoulder straps proximate the dorsal D-ring.

3. The safety harness of claim 2 , wherein the weight distribution assembly includes a support assembly and the dorsal pad assembly includes the D-ring, the support assembly being operatively connected to the dorsal pad assembly in at least one of an upper position above the D-ring and a lower position below the D-ring.

4. The safety harness of claim 1 , wherein the weight distribution assembly includes a hip pad through which the waist strap is routed.

5. The safety harness of claim 4 , wherein the weight distribution assembly includes a support assembly being operatively connected to the hip pad in a center position on the hip pad.

6. The safety harness of claim 4 , wherein the weight distribution assembly includes a support assembly having a first support member and a second support member, the first support member being operatively connected to the hip pad in a first offset position and the second support member being operatively connected to the hip pad in a second offset position, the first and second offset positions being relative to a center position on the hip pad.

7. The safety harness of claim 4 , wherein the weight distribution assembly includes a dorsal pad assembly and a support assembly pivotally connected to at least one of the hip pad and the dorsal pad assembly.

8. The safety harness of claim 7 , wherein the support assembly is configured and arranged to pivot in a first direction relative to the dorsal pad assembly and to pivot in a second direction relative to the hip pad.

9. The safety harness of claim 1 , wherein the weight distribution assembly includes a support assembly comprising a support member and an adjustable member configured and arranged to move along the support member to adjust a length of the support assembly.

10. The safety harness of claim 9 , wherein the support member includes a spring biased button and the adjustable member includes a plurality of apertures, the button being configured and arranged to extend through a desired one of the plurality of apertures to adjust the length of the support assembly.

11. A safety harness configured to arrest a user during a fall event, said safety harness comprising:

a dorsal D-ring connected to a dorsal pad assembly;

at least one of a waist belt and a hip pad;

shoulder straps interconnecting the dorsal pad assembly and the at least one of the waist belt and the hip pad; and

a support assembly interconnecting the dorsal pad assembly and the at least one of the waist belt and the hip pad, the support assembly being positioned proximate a user's spine when in use, the support assembly configured to be loaded in compression and transfer a majority of an applied weight from a load suspended from the dorsal D-ring from proximate the shoulder straps to proximate the at least one of the waist belt and the hip pad.

12. The safety harness of claim 11 , wherein the support assembly is made from a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a composite, a plastic, and a carbon fiber.

13. The safety harness of claim 11 , further comprising at least one pivot assembly interconnecting the support assembly and at least one of the dorsal pad assembly and the at least one of the waist belt and the hip pad.

14. The safety harness of claim 11 , wherein the support assembly is integral with the dorsal pad assembly.

15. The safety harness of claim 11 , wherein the support assembly is integral with the hip pad.

16. The safety harness of claim 11 , wherein the support assembly is a single component support member, the single component support member being operatively connected to the at least one of the waist belt and the hip pad proximate a middle rear portion of the at least one of the waist belt and the hip pad.

17. The safety harness of claim 11 , wherein the support assembly includes a first support member portion and a second support member portion, the first and second support member portions being operatively connected to the at least one of the waist belt and the hip pad proximate first and second sides of the at least one of the waist belt and the hip pad.

18. The safety harness of claim 11 , wherein the support assembly is adjustable in length.

19. The safety harness of claim 18 , wherein the support assembly includes a support member with a spring biased button and an adjustable member with a plurality of apertures, the button being configured and arranged to extend through a desired one of the plurality of apertures to adjust the length of the support assembly.