# US 12,600,442 B2 · Aquatic utility vehicle and suspension system thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,600,442 B2 - Document ID: US12600442B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/398,786 - Filed: 2023-12-28 - Published: 2025-07-03 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2023-12-28 - Assignees: Shadow Six Holdings, LLC - Applicants: Shadow Six Holdings, LLC - Inventors: Ryan D. Goldberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12600442B2 ## CPC - B63B 34/10: Power-driven personal watercraft, e.g. water scooters (water jet propulsion B63H11/00; jet steering B63H25/46); Accessories therefor - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) ## Abstract An aquatic utility vehicle (AUV) and suspension system for an aquatic utility vehicle is disclosed. The suspension system is configured for at least partially suspending a roll cage above at least two water engaging hulls. The suspension system includes a front mounting arrangement proximate to a bow side of the at least two water engaging hulls. The suspension system further includes a front tower type suspension mounted with the front mounting arrangement. The suspension system further includes a rear mounting arrangement proximate to stern side of the at least two water engaging hulls. The suspension system further includes a rear tower type suspension mounted with the rear mounting arrangement. During surfing, the at least two water engaging hulls are configured to articulate, and transfer wave impact forces upwards from the bow side and stern side into the roll cage through the suspension system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aquatic utility vehicle (AUV) comprising: a roll cage; at least two water engaging hulls coupled with the roll cage; and a suspension system, configured for at least partially suspending the roll cage above the at least two water engaging hulls, the suspension system including, at each of a left side and a right side of the roll cage: a front mounting arrangement proximate to a bow side of the at least two water engaging hulls, a front tower type suspension mounted with the front mounting arrangement, the front tower type suspension including a front bearing housing coupled to the front mounting arrangement and a spindled knuckle rotatably secured with the front bearing housing, an A-arm linkage coupling the spindled knuckle to the roll cage, a rear mounting arrangement proximate to stem side of the at least two water engaging hulls, and a rear tower type suspension mounted with the rear mounting arrangement, wherein during surfing, the at least two water engaging hulls are configured to articulate, and transfer wave impact forces upwards from the bow side and stem side into the roll cage through the suspension system, A-arms linkages associated with both the left side and the right side are configured for forward and backward rotation of each of the at least two water engaging hulls, and allows pitch of the each of the at least two water engaging hulls to change via the front bearing housing, and the spindled knuckle locks each of the at least two water engaging hulls and maintains a parallel orientation of the at least two water engaging hulls with respect to each other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The AUV of claim 1, wherein the front mounting arrangement includes a mounting plate and the rear mounting arrangement includes a mounting box. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The AUV of claim 1, wherein the at least two water engaging hulls includes at least a right-side hull and a left-side hull provided respectively on right side and left side of the roll c age. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The AUV of claim 3, wherein the front tower type suspension includes: a base plate spacer configured to be mounted over the front mounting arrangement; a front side base plate configured to be mounted over the base plate spacer; a front suspension tower structure extending from the front side base plate, wherein the front bearing housing is mounted over the front suspension tower structure to be coupled with the front mounting arrangement. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The AUV of claim 4, wherein the front suspension tower structure includes: a plurality of upright side plates, and an upright center gusset sandwiched between the plurality of upright side plates. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The AUV of claim 4, wherein the spindled knuckle of the front tower type suspension is coupled to the roll cage via A-arms linkages through a heim joint. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The AUV of claim 3, wherein the rear tower type suspension includes: a rear side base plate configured to be mounted over the rear mounting arrangement; a rear suspension tower structure extending from the rear side base plate; a ball joint assembly configured with the rear suspension tower structure; a pivot housing configured to be mounted over the ball joint assembly; and a rear bearing housing configured with the spindled pivot assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The AUV of claim 7, wherein the ball joint assembly includes: a ball joint housing extending from the rear suspension tower structure, and a ball joint stud configured with the ball joint housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The AUV of claim 7, wherein the rear tower type suspension is coupled with the roll cage via trailing arms and radius rods. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The AUV of claim 9, wherein the ball joint assembly is coupled with the trailing arms and radius rods through heim joints. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The AUV of claim 10, wherein the rear ball joint tower type suspension allows a limited range of forward, backward, and side to side articulation of the at least two water engaging hulls. ### Claim 12 A suspension system for an aquatic utility vehicle (AUV), the suspension system being configured for at least partially suspending a roll cage above at least two water engaging hulls, the suspension system comprising: at each of a left side and a right side of the roll cage, a front mounting arrangement proximate to a bow side of the at least two water engaging hulls; a front tower type suspension mounted with the front mounting arrangement, the front tower type suspension including a front bearing housing coupled to the front mounting arrangement and a spindled knuckle rotatably secured with the front bearing housing; an A-arm linkage coupling the spindled knuckle to the roll cage, a rear mounting arrangement proximate to stem side of the at least two water engaging hulls; and a rear tower type suspension mounted with the rear mounting arrangement, wherein during surfing, the at least two water engaging hulls are configured to articulate, and transfer wave impact forces upwards from the bow side and stem side into the roll cage through the suspension system, A-arms linkages associated with both the left side and the right side are configured for forward and backward rotation of each of the at least two water engaging hulls, and allows pitch of the each of the at least two water engaging hulls to change via the front bearing housing, and the spindled knuckle locks each of the at least two water engaging hulls and maintains a parallel orientation of the at least two water engaging hulls with respect to each other. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The suspension system of claim 12, wherein the at least two water engaging hulls includes at least a right-side hull and a left-side hull provided respectively on right side and left side of the roll cage. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The suspension system of claim 13, wherein the front tower type suspension includes: a base plate spacer configured to be mounted over the front mounting arrangement; a front side base plate configured to be mounted over the base plate spacer; a front suspension tower structure extending from the front side base plate, wherein the front bearing housing is mounted over the front suspension tower structure to be coupled with the front mounting arrangement, the front suspension tower structure includes: a plurality of upright side plates, and an upright center gusset sandwiched between the plurality of upright side plates. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The suspension system of claim 14, wherein the spindled knuckle of the front tower type suspension is coupled to the roll cage via A-arms linkages through a heim joint. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The suspension system of claim 13, wherein the rear tower type suspension includes: a rear side base plate configured to be mounted over the rear mounting arrangement; a rear suspension tower structure extending from the rear side base plate; a ball joint assembly configured with the rear suspension tower structure, the ball joint assembly includes: a ball joint housing extending from the rear suspension tower structure, and a ball joint stud configured with the ball joint housing; a rear bearing housing configured to be mounted over the ball joint assembly; and a spindled pivot assembly configured with the rear bearing housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The suspension system of claim 16, wherein the rear tower type suspension is coupled with the roll cage via trailing arms and radius rods, wherein the ball joint assembly is coupled with the trailing arms and radius rods through heim joints, and wherein the rear ball joint tower type suspension allows a limited range of forward, backward, and side to side articulation of the at least two water engaging hulls.