Heavy duty hinging system?

[ear3]

I have kind of an oddball commission I've been considering.  Client wants a collapsible set of small doors/screens that can be pulled across the hall entryway separating their kitchen and dining room so they can keep their small dog in the kitchen as needed.  It's a real small dog, so the panels/screens only have to be about 2 ft. tall.  I plan on making the assembly out of two or three panels, attaching them to one another with piano hinges so that they can be folded up when not in use.  The tricky part though will be coming up with a hinging mechanism that will allow the whole thing to hang from the wall, and will be strong enough to support the weight of the panels when fully extended across the entryway.

Can anyone think of some type of hardware that would do the trick?  They obviously make heavy duty mechanisms for hanging things like panel TVs, but I need something I could attach to one of the 2 or 3 panels, and which would permit them to be folded/tucked away when not in use. 

 

[tjbnwi]

Stainless steel piano hinges, lightweight panels.

Tom

 

[Bob D.]

Is this a normal size doorway, ~36" ?

Will the bottom of the gate be close to the floor so that
you could use a couple casters to support it and take the
load off the hinges?

 

[ear3]

Yes, normal 36", and the panels will be close to the floor so the dog cannot sneak underneath.  The caster option + stainless piano hinge might be a feasible solution, thanks.

Is this a normal size doorway, ~36" ?

Will the bottom of the gate be close to the floor so that
you could use a couple casters to support it and take the
load off the hinges?

 

[antss]

I'd use a rixon pivot, it'll support all the weight you need.

I'd also use tectus hinges.  Like soss, only better.

 

[Holzhacker]

I've done this sort of cantilever set up before. No matter what I've tried it always comes down to needing a caster at the far end. You can install the assembly now without a caster at the end, it will look great and work wonderful. However, all you need is a kid around swinging on the doors from time to time or a guy using the door as a prop while people talk and you end up with sag. Client will be happy now but complain later.

 

[antss]

^^^^^^

If the client has wood /cork floors they will complain about the marks left by the casters well before the door starts to sag.

Rixon pivot  [wink]. The door will break before the "hinge" sags.

 

[Dane]

Before you go too crazy reinventing the wheel- you might do some research on baby gates.  Not saying that you should use one, as I imagine the aesthetics are why the clients hired you, but the hinging systems that they have might be relevant.  We have had gates that have lasted for years with all manner of abuse without sag.  Might be cheaper to actually buy a gate and cannibalize the hardware...

 

[ear3]

Thanks for additional suggestions.  I actually have the Rixon pivot on my swinging kitchen door that's been there probably since the 1960s and still going strong -- I didn't realize that was the name for it.

The floors are actually pretty nice oak, so I would have to be careful about casters now that I think about it.