This first production model of the locking seat belt retractor was invented by Herbert Beller. He came up with the idea while he was working as a coordinating manager at Jim Robbins Seat Belt Company (now defunct). The mechanism for the retractable shoulder seat belt would give passengers mobility, yet lock in place during high acceleration or deacceleration.

Despite saving countless lives with his invention since the mid-1970s, the company he worked for asked him to sign the patent for the seat belt in 1973. Had he not signed the patent and claimed sole ownership of the invention, he would have made billions by some estimations. Nevertheless, in many interviews, Beller himself claimed how proud he was that his invention saved the lives of so many people.