Placing a tube around the sensor/emitter might work, but it sounds like that would easily break if kicked or struck by something passing by.
Perhaps a polarized filter for a camera would be taped or somehow fixed to the unit.
alt text http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41QEZXHVQZL._SL500_SS75_.jpg Amazon
Amazon has this one for $11.99.