Patent ID: 8205833

Claim:
A composite support leg for a lightweight aircraft passenger seat, the composite support leg comprising: a structural box having a seat end and a foot end opposite the seat end, the structural box comprising: extruded composite frame elements; a first skin coupled to the extruded composite frame elements, the first skin corresponding to a first side of the structural box; a second skin coupled to the extruded composite frame elements, the second skin corresponding to a second side of the structural box; and a core material surrounded by the extruded composite frame elements and located between the first skin and the second skin; a composite brace having a first end attached to the front edge of the structural box and a second end configured for attachment to an aircraft mounting feature behind the structural box, wherein the first end of the composite brace comprises a first flange coupled to the first side of the structural box, and a second flange coupled to the second side of the structural box; a fitting coupled to the foot end of the structural box, the fitting being configured for attachment to the aircraft mounting feature; and said fitting is configured to absorb energy and facilitate limited travel of the structural box toward the aircraft mounting feature under high loading conditions.