Patent ID: 8783634

Claim:
A suction device having the ability to adhere to a rough surface, comprising: a body formed from a polymer and having a suction area defined by one or more margins configured to rest in close apposition with a target surface, wherein the suction area is flexible and configured to create a suction seal against the target surface with negative pressure between the suction area and the target surface; and a plurality of elongated micro-rods depending from the one or more margins, wherein each of the plurality of elongated micro-rods is less than 1000 microns in diameter, the plurality of micro-rods have a packing density such that the one or more margins are predominantly bounded with micro-rods, wherein the size, composition, and packing density of the micro-rods provide sufficient friction between the micro-rods and the target surface to maintain the suction seal between the suction area and the target surface; wherein the body of the suction device and the plurality of micro-rods are configured to adhere to the target surface through a combination of suction generated by the negative pressure between the suction area and the target surface and friction generated between the plurality of micro-rods and the target surface.