Load bearing structural closure system

A closure assembly for a window framing section, the window framing section having first and second jambs along opposing sides of the window framing section, a header along a top of the window framing section between the first and second jambs, and a sill along a bottom of the window framing section between the first and second jambs, the closure assembly comprising:

• a first track disposed substantially along an entire length of the header and extending substantially from the first jamb to the second jamb of the window framing section,
• a second track disposed along an entire length of the sill and extending substantially from the first jamb to the second jamb of the window framing section,
• a first, second and third closure members secured in the window framing section for lateral and rotational movement within the window framing section,
• the first, second and third closure members each including a respective frame having a free end and a pivot end, the free ends pivoting into the window framing section in a window closed configuration, and pivoting away from the window framing section in a window open configuration,
• the pivot ends of the first, second and third closure members each having first and second pivots adjacent the first track and second track respectively, the first and second pivots of each closure member being interconnected by a shaft disposed within the closure member and the shaft pivotally supporting the closure member for swinging between the window open configuration and the window closed configuration,
• the first, second and third closure members each being movable along the first and second tracks at each of their pivot ends,
• wherein the first track has a first rack that runs along the entire length of the first track, the second track has a second rack that runs along the entire length of the second track, the first pivot of each of the first and second closure members respectively has a first pinion that engages the first rack, and the second pivot of each of the first and second closure members respectively has a second pinion that engage the second rack, the respective racks and pinions providing for alignment of the first and second pivots within the first and second tracks in a substantially perpendicular line with respect to the first and second tracks,
• the first closure member having a first inter-engaging member proximate the free end of the first closure member, the first inter-engaging member having a first inter-engaging portion and a second inter-engaging portion,
• the second closure member having a second inter-engaging member proximate the free end of the second closure member, the second inter-engaging member having a third and fourth inter-engaging portion,
• the third closure member having a third inter-engaging member proximate the free end of the third closure member, the third inter-engaging member having a fifth inter-engaging portion,
• the first inter-engaging portion of the first closure member releasably interlocks with the third inter-engaging portion of the second closure member when the first and second closure members are in the open configuration and the free end of the first closure member is adjacent the free end of the second closure member, and
• the second inter-engaging portion of the first closure member releasably interlocks with the pivot end of the second closure member when the first and second closure members are in the closed configuration and the free end of the first closure member is adjacent the pivot end of the second closure member,
• the fourth inter-engaging portion of the second closure member releasably interlocks with the fifth inter-engaging portion of the third closure member when the second and third closure members are in the open configuration and the free end of the second closure member is adjacent the free end of the third closure member,
• the third inter-engaging portion of the second closure member releasably interlocks with the pivot end of the third closure member when the second and third closure members are in the closed configuration and the free end of the second closure member is adjacent the pivot end of the third closure member.