Patent ID: 7635364

Claim:
A fixation assembly having a longitudinal axis comprising: a first plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, at least one first fastener hole configured to receive a first fastener, the first fastener hole extending from the upper surface through to the lower surface, a plurality of rows of teeth and at least one ramped surface on the lower surface of the first plate, wherein a first row of teeth of the plurality of rows of teeth has a first elevation, and a second row of the plurality of rows of teeth has a second elevation and the second elevation is greater than the first elevation; and a second plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, at least one second fastener hole configured to receive a second fastener, and a deflectable resilient securing element on the upper surface, the resilient securing element comprising an enlarged tab and an engaging ridge, the tab and the engaging rib engageable with the at least one of the plurality of rows of teeth to couple the plates together; wherein the second plate is movable along the longitudinal axis with respect to the first plate; and wherein the compressive force necessary to engage the resilient element with subsequent rows of teeth of the plurality of rows of teeth increases as the second plate moves farther along the longitudinal axis.