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.

Abstract: A take-up spool latch for a seat belt retractor of the type comprising a spool journalled for rotation in a spool frame and incorporating a torsion spring for retracting a seat belt, the latch having a clutch member and a brake member with means between them limiting relative movement, both the clutch and brake members having cam surfaces thereon which are engaged by a pawl which co-operates with a ratchet on the spool and is so arranged that:A. upon retraction of a seat belt which has been withdrawn from the spool the cam surfaces retain the pawl out of engagement from the ratchet teeth,B. upon initial further withdrawal and during the limited rotation between the brake and clutch member the pawl is released by the cam surfaces and engage the ratchet teeth thereby preventing retraction,C. upon still further withdrawal the cam surfaces again engage the pawl and retain it out of engagement from the ratchet teeth, so that full retraction can again take place.