Patent ID: 8869840

Claim:
A modular bend stiffener comprising: a plurality of inflexible elements defining an elongate passage therein for accommodating one or more pipes or cables, wherein said plurality of inflexible elements are coupled together in an elongate series via flexible elements included between adjacent pairs of inflexible elements, wherein said flexible elements are one or more flexible pads placed in elongate series continuity with said inflexible elements and without having any overlapping area therewith, said flexible pads enabling said stiffener to flex laterally relative to an elongate axis of the stiffener when in operation, wherein said one or more flexible pads are implemented to have progressively diminishing hardness from a proximate end element of said stiffener to a distal end element of said stiffener, so that said stiffener is more flexible at its distal end relative to its proximate end, said proximate end being adapted to be anchored.