Abstract: A pressure-free type seat belt retractor wherein the wearer has a large "degree of freedom", i.e., permitting movement for a considerable distance beyond a "pressure-free point" without resetting so as to require retraction and subsequent withdrawal of the belt. A gate member, in the form of a disc is driven by a clutch from the retractor spool, is cooperable with a gate latch. The gate member has a cam surface which cooperates with a pawl so as to inhibit retraction after (1) withdrawal of the belt has caused the gate latch to engage the gate member and restrain its rotation; (2) initial retraction of the belt has released the latch from the member, and (3) further withdrawal has allowed the pawl to move to a retraction inhibiting position and establishing the "pressure-free point." The cam surface may again lift the pawl from the inhibiting position as belt withdrawal occurs, but upon subsequent retraction the pawl returns to the inhibiting position.