ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 19 -- United States Patent no. 12,254,856, issued on March 18, was assigned to Guitar Center Inc. (Westlake Village, Calif.).
"Electronic hi-hat cymbal" was invented by David Simmons (Suffolk, Great Britain) and Jeffrey R. Laity (Pasadena, Calif.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "There is disclosed an electronic hi-hat system having a movable upper housing separated from a stationary lower housing by a spring, with the upper housing having a simulated cymbal attached thereto. The upper housing and simulated cymbal connect through a central vertical rod to a lower foot pedal, with the entire structure being supported by a stand on which the lower housing mounts. The lower h...