Abstract:
A sign unit includes a translucent holder unit which has a solar-powered lighting unit supported thereon. A container is mounted on one side of the holder unit and is adapted to contain printed information. Anchor stakes support the holder unit.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the general art of card, picture or sign exhibiting, and to the particular field of illuminated signs. 
   Many people conduct yard sales and want to notify people passing by of the event, the times and dates, as well as provide information regarding items that may be on sale. Additionally, many small businesses like to advertise and notify people passing by their store of sales, and the like. Still further, many rental buildings wish to advertise rental properties. 
   However, the inventor is not aware of any sign suitable for providing such information for a small entity, such as an individual or a small business. Heretofore, such small entities have had to resort to hand-written signs and small posters to provide such information. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a sign that can be used by a small entity to provide information to potential customers regarding merchandise or services that may be provided by the small entity. 
   Still further, some of these signs may be in poorly lighted areas and thus may be difficult to see. This degraded visibility may vitiate any advantages associated with the sign. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a sign that can be used by a small entity to provide information and will be visible even in low light situations. 
   Still further, many small entities change their featured items or services on a periodic basis. For example, a restaurant may change its specials on a daily basis, or a store may offer different items on different days of the week. Each time an advertisement is changed, the signs must be changed. This is difficult and onerous if special signs must be printed up each time the advertisement is changed. In some cases, parts of a pre-printed sign are simply deleted and other parts added to the sign. This may degrade the appearance of the sign. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a sign that can be used by a small entity to provide information and which can be easily and quickly changed without degrading the presentation of the sign. 
   Some signs are simply taped to a window. After awhile, the tape may dry out or may leave marks on the support after the sign has been removed. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a sign that can be used by a small entity to provide information and which will not require tape or other such products to support the sign in place. 
   PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a main object of the present invention to provide a sign that can be used by a small entity to provide information to potential customers regarding merchandise or services that may be provided by the small entity. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a sign that can be used by a small entity to provide information and will be visible even in low light situations. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a sign that can be used by a small entity to provide information and which can be easily and quickly changed without degrading the presentation of the sign. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a sign that can be used by a small entity to provide information and which will not require tape or other such products to support the sign in place. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   These, and other, objects are achieved by an illuminated sign unit that includes a translucent holder unit which will accommodate materials to be displayed and which has an open top end. A solar powered lighting unit fits on the open top unit to provide lighting to the interior of the holder unit. A storage container is mounted on one side of the holder unit and anchor stakes are fixed to the bottom end of the holder unit. 
   Using the illuminated sign unit embodying the present invention will permit a small entity, such as an individual, to display information in a highly visible manner and to quickly and easily change that information as needed. The sign unit can be securely mounted in the ground and thus will not require tape or other such adhesive materials. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illuminated sign unit embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a view taken along line  2 — 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
   Referring to the Figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in an illuminated sign unit  10  that achieves the above-stated objectives. 
   Unit  10  comprises a holder unit  12  in which display material is located. The display material can include advertisements, and the like, and can be changed as needed. 
   Holder unit  12  includes a first end wall  14  which is a bottom end wall when holder unit  12  is in use, a first side wall  16 , a second side wall  18 , and a transverse axis  20  which extends between first side wall  16  and second side wall  18 . 
   A first translucent wall  30  is formed of translucent plastic or glass, or the like, and is mounted on first end wall  14  and on the first and second side walls  16 ,  18 . 
   A second translucent wall  32  is mounted on first end wall  14  and on the first and second side walls  16 ,  18  and is spaced apart from first translucent wall  30  to define a gap  36  between the first and second translucent walls  30 ,  32  and between the first and second side walls  16 ,  18 . 
   An open end  38  is a top end when holder unit  12  is in use. 
   Two anchor stakes  50  and  52  are fixedly attached to first end wall  14  and are used to support unit  12  in place. Anchor stakes  50 ,  52  are generally legs that are forced into the ground, but can be any suitable support element as will occur to those skilled in the art based on the teaching of this disclosure. 
   A container unit  60  is mounted on first side wall  16  and is used to contain literature that is associated with the goods or services being advertised by unit  10 . 
   Container unit  60  includes a first wall  62  which is a rear wall and which is fixedly mounted on first end wall  16  when container unit  60  is in use, a first side wall  64  which is located adjacent to first translucent wall  30  when container unit  60  is in use, a second side wall  66  which is located adjacent to second translucent wall  32  when container unit  60  is in use, and an end wall  68  which is a bottom wall when container unit  60  is in use. 
   Container unit  60  further includes a translucent wall  70  which is fixed to the first and second side walls  64 ,  66  and to the end wall  68  of container unit  60  and which is spaced apart from first wall  62 . A gap  72  is defined between the first and second side walls  64 ,  66  and the end wall  68  of container unit  60  and accommodates the literature stored in container unit  60 . 
   A cover element  76  is pivotally mounted on first wall  62  to span gap  72  defined in the container unit  60 . Cover element  76  is mounted on wall  62  by hinges, or the like, to move in direction  78  to open or close the container unit  60  as needed to dispense the material stored therein. 
   A lighting unit  90  is releasably supported on holder unit  12  adjacent to open end  36  of the holder unit  12  and provides light so any material displayed in holder unit  12  can be easily seen even in difficult lighting situations. 
   Lighting unit  90  includes a housing  92  having a first end  94  which is a bottom end when lighting unit  90  is in use, a first wall  96  mounted on first end  94 , and a second wall  98  mounted on first end  94 . Second wall  98  is spaced apart from first wall  96 . A gap  100  is defined between the first and second walls  96 ,  98  of the housing  92 . 
   Housing  92  further includes a first roof panel  102  mounted on first wall  96  and a second roof panel  104  mounted on second wall  98 . 
   A first solar panel  110  is mounted on first roof panel  102  by mounting elements  116 , and a vent gap  118  is defined between roof panel  102  and solar panel  110 . 
   A second solar panel  120  is mounted on second roof panel  104  by mounting elements  122 , and a vent gap  124  is defined between roof panel  104  and solar panel  120 . 
   An enclosure unit  130  is mounted on first end  94  of housing  90  and includes a first wall  132  fixedly mounted on first end wall  94  of the housing  92 , a second wall  134  spaced apart from first wall  132  of the enclosure unit  130 , a first side wall  136 , and a second side wall  138 . Enclosure unit  130  further includes a first end wall  140  and a second end wall  142 . A hollow interior volume  150  is defined by the first wall  132 , the second wall  134 , the first side wall  136  and the second end wall  142  of the enclosure unit  130 . 
   Light fixture mounting flanges, such as light fixture mounting flange  154 , are fixedly mounted on second wall  134  of the enclosure unit  130 . The light fixture mounting flanges  154  are located in gap  36  defined between the first and second side walls  16 ,  18  of holder unit  12  when enclosure unit  130  is in use. 
   Lighting unit  90  is used by placing it on top of holder unit  12  as indicated in  FIG. 1  so it is abuttingly supported on holder unit  12 . 
   A rechargeable battery  160  is located in gap  100  and is electrically connected to the first and second solar panels  110 ,  120  in a manner known to those skilled in the art to be recharged by the solar panels  110 ,  120 . 
   An electric converter  170  is located in hollow interior  150  defined in the enclosure unit  130  and is electrically connected to the rechargeable battery  160  to convert power from the battery  160  into power that can be used by lighting elements included with unit  10 . 
   A light element  180  is mounted on the light fixture mounting flanges  154  and is electrically connected to electric converter  170  to be powered thereby. Light element  180  is located in gap  36  defined between the first and second side walls  16 ,  18  and the end wall  14  of the holder unit  12  when the enclosure unit  130  is in use. 
   Use of unit  10  can be understood from the teaching of the foregoing disclosure and thus will not be discussed in detail. Material, such as billboard-type material is inserted into holder unit  12  and brochures or like literature is inserted into container unit  60 . Lighting unit  90  is then placed on top of holder unit  30  and activated, using an on/off switch, or the like. Power from battery  160  will activate light element  180  which is located and positioned to illuminate any material in holder unit  12 . Battery  160  is recharged by a circuit which includes solar panels  110  and  120 . 
   It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.