LOCKING WEB RETRACTOR WITH CONTROLLABLE LOCK

A locking web retractor includes a spool mounted between side walls of a frame and rotatable in web take-up and pay out directions, and a locking apparatus including a toothed wheel rotatable with the spool, a movable component and a lock pawl. The movable component moves between a locking position in which it forces an engagement end of the lock pawl into engagement with the toothed wheel to prevent the spool from rotating in the web pay out direction, and an unlocking position in which the movable component does not force the engagement end of the lock pawl toward the toothed wheel. The lock pawl defines a counterweight at an opposite end and configured, in the unlocking position of the movable component, to cause the lock pawl to move in a direction which draws the engagement end of the lock pawl away from the toothed wheel.