Retractor

A seat belt retractor comprising: a spool (1) mounted for rotation for retraction or pay-out of seat belt webbing depending upon the rotation direction of the spool (1); a locking ring (9) attached to one end of the spool (1); means (7) for locking the locking ring (9) against rotation when a crash condition is sensed; and force limiting means for allowing further pay-out of the seat belt webbing after the locking ring (9) has locked, under the influence of an occupant's forward momentum, coupled in the force path between the spool (1) and the locking ring (9), the force limiting means comprising a primary force limiting means (12); and a secondary force limiting means comprising an elongate deformable member (15), arranged such that relative rotation between the spool (1) and the locking ring (9) causes a predetermined length of the deformable member (15) to be deformed during a first stage of load limiting, wherein the cross-sectional area of the deformable member (15) is uniform over a major portion of the predetermined length and is reduced over at least one minor portion (21,31) located a predeterminal distance from the end of the member (15).