Photocell cover and method of use
View Patent ↗A photocell cover, including a jacket that defines a jacket cavity and a jacket opening, that is operable to be used by the user at any time of day and in any level of ambient light. The invention achieves this object by providing a photocell cover to cover a photocell and its housing, blocking any ambient light from reaching the photocell, in order to provide an environment in which the photocell can be tested. The jacket cavity and jacket opening receive a housing of a photocell and simulate a low level of ambient light in the area surrounding the photocell in order to test the functionality of the photocell. The method of using the photocell cover allows the user to test the photocell during any time of day or night, including from a ground level position.
1. A method of testing a photocell disposed on a lighting fixture comprising:
providing a photocell cover with a jacket:
having an internal proximal end;
an internal distal end, opposite the internal proximal end;
defining a substantially enclosed jacket cavity spanning from the internal proximal end to the internal distal end; and
defining a distal jacket opening disposed at a distal end of the jacket, the distal jacket opening spatially coupled to the jacket cavity; and
inserting a housing of the photocell disposed on a lighting fixture through the distal jacket opening and within the jacket cavity to block any ambient light from reaching the photocell within the jacket cavity and to generate a false-positive light activation reading, wherein the photocell has a non-low-level ambient light reading before insertion.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the jacket includes an elastic band disposed at the distal end of the jacket, further comprising the step of:
elastically deforming the elastic band of the jacket; and
frictionally retaining the jacket to the housing of the photocell at least partially through the elastic band.
3. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising the step of:
frictionally retaining the jacket to a proximal end of the housing of the photocell at least partially through the elastic band.
4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
disposing the distal end of the jacket on a surface of the lighting fixture.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the jacket includes an attachment member disposed at a proximal end of the jacket, further comprising the step of:
providing an elongated arm member and attaching the elongated arm member to the attachment member;
extending the elongated arm member from a substantially ground-level position to a position defined by the housing of the photocell disposed on the light fixture; and
covering the housing of the photocell disposed on the light fixture with the jacket.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein:
the attachment member is a loop.
7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein,
the elongated arm member is a flexible cord.
8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
uncoupling the distal end of the jacket from the photocell disposed on a lighting fixture.
9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising the step of:
elastically deforming an elastic band disposed at the distal end of the jacket from the photocell disposed on a lighting fixture.
10. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
providing a pole member with a proximal end having a handle and a distal end having a jacket housing disposed thereon, the distal end opposite the proximal end, the jacket housing defining a jacket housing cavity; and
before inserting the housing of the photocell disposed on a lighting fixture through the distal jacket opening, inserting the jacket of the photocell cover into the jacket housing cavity until it is frictional retained by the jacket housing.
11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein:
the pole member includes at least two pole arm members operably configured to telescope.
12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein:
the jacket housing cavity is shaped and sized to conform to a portion of the jacket of the photocell cover.
13. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:
providing an attachment member disposed at a proximal end of the jacket;
providing an elongated arm member with a proximal end and a distal end, opposing the proximal end;
attaching the proximal end of the elongated arm member to the attachment member; and
inserting the elongated arm member through the jacket housing cavity and a slit defined by a sidewall of the jacket housing.
14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein:
the elongated arm member includes a handle disposed at the distal end of the elongated arm member.