Hinged security override system

A utility box comprising:

• a hasp portion mounted within said box and extending through an opening in an outer door of said box;
• a bracket mounted to said outer door;
• said bracket having a hook at one end and movable between an open position wherein said hook is outside said box and a closed position wherein said hook extends through an opening in said outer door of said box;
• said bracket mating with said hasp portion when in said closed position and forming a padlock receiving portion;
• said hook engaging a retention plate slideably mounted within said box;
• said retention plate slideably movable between an extended position wherein said retention plate engages said hook when said bracket is in said closed position and a retracted position wherein said retention plate does not engage said hook when said bracket is in said closed position;
• and
• wherein said bracket is movable from said closed position to said open position when said retention plate is moved to said retracted position to thereby open said padlock receiving portion.

A method of opening a locked utility box comprising the steps of:

• (a) moving a retention plate slideably mounted within said box from an extended position wherein said retention plate engages a hook on one end of a bracket to a retracted position wherein said retention plate does not engage said hook, said bracket mounted to an outer door of said box;
• (b) moving said bracket from a closed position wherein said bracket mates with a hasp portion mounted within said box and said hook extends through an opening in said outer door, to an open position wherein said hook is outside said box;
• (c) removing a locked padlock from a padlock receiving section formed when said bracket mates with said hasp;
• and
• (d) opening said outer door.

An overrideable padlock hasp comprising:

• a hasp portion adapted to extend through an opening in an outer surface of a structure;
• a bracket adapted to be mounted to said outer surface, said bracket having a latching end and adapted to be movable between an open position wherein said latching end is outside said opening and a closed position wherein said latching end extends through said opening, said bracket mating with said hasp portion when in said closed position for forming a padlock retaining hasp;
• and
• a retention plate slideably movable between an extended position wherein said retention plate engages said latching end for retaining said bracket in said closed position and a retracted position wherein said retention plate does not engage said latching end when said bracket is in said closed position so that said bracket may be moved out of said closed position to said open position such that said padlock retaining hasp is no longer formed.