Lighting apparatus for a sign

A lighting apparatus for use with a sign of a type having an elongate name plate, said lighting apparatus comprising:

• an elongate frame having a planar bottom with a generally arcuate upper portion defining an open space between said bottom and said upper portion;
• a bracket having a pair of spaced apart plates extending longitudinally along said planar bottom and adapted to sandwich a portion of the name plate therebetween;
• a battery positioned within said frame;
• and
• a plurality of light sources mounted to said bottom of said frame and spaced apart longitudinally therealong, said plurality of light sources being electrically connected to said battery, whereby to illuminate the name plate.

A lighting apparatus for use in illuminating a sign of a type having an elongate name plate with an upper edge, said lighting apparatus comprising:

• an elongate frame having a planar bottom with a generally arcuate upper portion defining an open space between said bottom and said upper portion;
• a bracket having a pair of spaced apart plates extending longitudinally along said planar bottom and adapted to sandwich a portion of the name plate therebetween adjacent the upper edge thereof;
• means for releasably coupling said bracket to the name plate;
• a rechargeable battery positioned within said interior space;
• a solar panel positioned atop said upper portion of said frame for collecting solar energy, said solar panel being electrically connected to said battery for providing a trickle charge to said battery, whereby to repeatedly recharge said battery;
• a plurality of light sources depending from said bottom of said frame and spaced apart longitudinally therealong and positioned on both sides of said bracket;
• and
• a photoelectric light sensor mounted to said frame for sensing a level of ambient light, said light sensor being electrically connected to said battery and adapted to permit current from said battery to energize said plurality of light sources when said sensed level of ambient light is below a predetermined level.