| CPC B64C 3/182 (2013.01) | 19 Claims |

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1. A stiffener comprising: a core; and a shell which surrounds the core, wherein the shell is formed from a fibre material, and the core comprises: first and second battens arranged side by side; and a spacer between the first and second battens, wherein the stiffener extends in a lengthwise direction, and the first and second battens and the spacer have respective lengths which extend in the lengthwise direction of the stiffener;
wherein the first and second battens are spaced apart by a gap;
wherein the spacer is in the gap between the first and second battens;
wherein the first and second battens, the spacer, and the gap have respective widths;
wherein the widths of the first and second battens decrease in the lengthwise direction; and
wherein the widths of the spacer and the gap increase in the lengthwise direction.
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