Patent ID: 7055775

Claim:
A belt retractor for an occupant restraint system comprising: a frame and a belt spool, said belt spool having a pair of flanges and being rotatably mounted in said frame, said belt retractor further comprising a locking mechanism for selective blocking rotation of said belt spool, said locking mechanism comprising an external toothing on at least one of said pair of flanges and a locking pawl pivotally mounted on said frame for selective engagement with said external toothing, said external toothing being formed on a wheel member on said one flange of said belt spool, said flange extending radially beyond said wheel member, said locking pawl bearing laterally both on said flange and on said frame on a side of said pawl facing away from said flange of said belt spool, and said locking pawl being biased into an engaged position and being movable by means of a solenoid into an inactive position out of engagement with said external toothing.