who came up with this single pivot suspension design?

These are motorcycle guys. They probably knew what they were doing, but just didn’t have the shocks or bolt through axles to realise it properly.

Well yes, it was a long process of development, funded by small successes because the MTB industry wasn’t very big back then.

Or the1987 SE Shocker by Hanebrink

compare above “Hanebrink” with Bossnut V2…:

Details of the new Calibre Bossnut V2

o.k. – chainstay, linkage and shocks are different.
And color.

The shock in the hanebrink is compressed from both ends, so I’d say it is very different to the bossnut.

I’d say it is very different to the bossnut.

Yes.

30 years “development” from Hanebrink to Bossnut: well – these years were well spent to change and tweak these details…
😯

Who came up with this typ of design (Specialized?)?

Horst Leitner came up wth the horst link design

Horst Leitner

30 years “development” from Hanebrink to Bossnut: well – these years were well spent to change and tweak these details…

Are you suggesting there’s not much difference between a 30 year old full sus and a modern one? Seriously?