290 rBDEBAI. BSIKATU. �inade that it tààa in eovermg the edge of the wooden parti- tions or pigeon-holes, and is connected with the other frames abote, below, and on each side of it, in such manner that the frames make a continuons frontage, no part of which ean be removed (from the outside) without pulling down other parts and breaking the wood-work, so that a surreptitious removal of the front of anj box, in order to get possession of its con- tents, is practically impossible. Each frame, made as before etated of metal, bas all around it a flange aa, which protects the outside of the wood-work. The sides of the frame, bb, enter and fit closely against the wood forming the pigeon- holes, and may be continuons or notched out at intervais, and each frame bas attached to it one leaf of two or more hinges, ce. The door is of iron, solid at the top, where the lock, d, is attached, and having an opening, e, below, in which a plate of glass is secured. I prefer to locate rods, ff, behind the plate, to prevent the introduction of a hand if the glass be broken, and so to form the door that when shut it enters within the frame, (see gg,) so that it cannot be lifted from its hinges. When the frames are all in place, each frame is riveted through the wood-work to its four neighbors, (see hh, figure 2,) and thus a continuous iron frontage is formed. Each door bas a small spring boit, i, and a lock, d, attached to it, the two operating together and forming, in the hands of the postmaster, a perfect safeguard against all entrance to the box by means of the key, and is more particularly set forth in my application for a patent therefor made eqnal date with this." �The claims of the original patent were as follows : "1. The combination of several box frames with each other, and with pigeon-holes, as described, by means of rivets passing through the frames, and the wood-work entering be- tween said frames, the combination being substantially as described. 2. The above, in combination with the flanges, making part of the frames, and proteeting and enclosing the exterior of the wood-work, substantially as set forth." �From the history of the art, and the language of the speci- fication, it appears that the invention consisted in a tier or ����
