Patent ID: 7666185

Claim:
A fixation assembly comprising: a first plate having a first engaging portion, a second engaging portion, a first fixation hole, and at least one stop component located between the first fixation hole and the second engaging portion, wherein the first engaging portion has a first end and a second end and an indentation at one of its ends and the first engaging portion has a first progressively tapered side surface and a second progressively tapered side surface and a substantially flat surface disposed therebetween wherein the second engaging portion has a larger width than the first engaging portion and the first progressively tapered side surface and the second progressively tapered side surface taper outward toward the second engaging portion; and a second plate having a second fixation hole, at least one drill guide key, and a contoured opening, the contoured opening having a first tapered portion slidably engaged with the first plate at the first progressively tapered surface of the first engaging portion and a second tapered portion where the second tapered portion is slidably engaged with the first plate at the second progressively tapered side surface of the first engaging portion; wherein the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion provide progressive resistance to the sliding of the second plate relative to the first plate and the stop component limits the movement of the second plate relative to the first plate in a direction towards the first fixation hole when the at least one stop component interacts with the contoured opening and the indentation limits the movement of the first plate relative to the second plate in a direction away from the first fixation hole when the second engaging portion interacts with the second plate.