On This Date in Minnesota History: January 22

January 22, 1963 – Patent # 3,074,761 was issued for retractable seatbelts that self-tighten during a crash, developed by engineer James J. Ryan, assignor to The Regents of the University of Minnesota, a Minnesota corporation.

http://www.google.com/patents?id=cMZSAAAAEBAJ&pg=PA3&dq=james+ryan+and+retractable+seat+belts&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ltlvT_-ZOKLi2QXSrfTwAQ&sqi=2&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=james%20ryan%20and%20retractable%20seat%20belts&f=false

Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain Jan. 22, 2013,
as long as acknowledgement included.