Self forming socket

摘要

A self-forming socket having a plurality of retractable pins (16) bundled in parallel within a housing (20). The bundled pins may displace longitudinally and are biased by spring force away from a frame (20) on which the pins are slidably held. A spacer pin (30) may be positioned at the centre of the socket and is similarly biased away from the frame under spring force. When the socket is forced over a fastener, nut, or bolt head, groups of pins are pushed inwards towards the frame and into the housing thereby conforming the pins to the contours of the fastener. Each pin has a circular cross-section and the interior walls of the housing containing the bundled pins has a hexagonal shape and does not contain any right angles. The pins are packed in a hexagonal arrangement.