Lamp socket assembly tool

A tool for assembling a vehicle lamp socket to a lamp housing, wherein the lamp housing is defined by a vehicle, the tool comprising:

• an engaging end configured to engage a vehicle lamp socket inserted in a lamp housing opening defined by a lamp housing, wherein the lamp housing is a vehicle lamp housing;
• a driving end operatively connected to the engaging end and configured to receive and transmit an axial force and a rotating force to the engaging end;
• a passage in communication with the engaging end and configured to receive a connector portion of the socket, wherein the connector portion of the socket defines a connector interface;
• wherein the tool in use engages the socket to transmit the axial force and the rotating force to the socket to axially displace the lamp socket relative to the lamp housing while rotating the lamp socket relative to the housing opening from one of a locked and unlocked position to the other of the locked and unlocked position relative to the lamp housing;
• and
• wherein the tool in use does not contact the connector interface.

A method for assembling a lamp socket assembly to a lamp housing of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• engaging an engaging interface of a tool to a socket interface of a lamp socket assembly including a compressible element and a socket defining the socket interface, wherein the tool includes:
• an engaging end defining the engaging interface;
• a driving end operatively connected to the engaging end and configured to receive and transmit an axial force and a rotating force to the engaging end;
• a passage in communication with the engaging end and configured to receive a connector portion of the socket;
• operating the tool to align the socket assembly in an unlocked position relative to the lamp housing;
• operating the tool to apply an axial force to the driving end of the tool to insert the socket assembly into the lamp housing and compress the compressible element;
• and
• operating the tool to apply a rotating force to the driving end of the tool while applying the axial force to rotate the socket assembly in a first direction to a locked position relative to the lamp housing.