In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Kevin wrote:

I have an opening between two rooms of about 8-foot that I want to
partition. The plan is to use 4 x 2-foot doors within a frame. The
usual way of doing this seems to be to effectively arrange these as 2
x 4-foot bi-fold doors e.g. see projects 22 & 23 in the wickes
good-idea leaflet :-

http://media.venda.com/wickes/ebiz/w...ages/gil/5.pdf

The problem is that SWMBO want to be able to open the middle two doors
leaving the outer two bolted to the frame for normal use, but then
open all four, folding them back to the wall on either side for
special occasions. The arrangement of the hinges in the wickes
designs would not permit this as the rebate would prevent the middle
two doors from opening if the outer two were bolted closed.

The only way that I can think of doing this is to use some kind of
double-action hinge, but the only ones I can find are spring-loaded
which would not be suitable. Does anybody know where I can get
unsprung double-action hinges in the uk ?

Anybody got any alternative methods ? I think I have seen a similar
arrangement in a friends previous house but I'm not sure and cannot
check. I have vague recollections of parliament hinges being used but
cannot think how they would work to fulfil my requirements.

Suggestions gratefully received.

Thanks. Kevin.

I don't know about Wickes' bi-fold doors specifically, but most bi-fold
doors work thus:
The outer leaf is hinged to the frame using pin-type hinges at the top and
bottom. The 2 leaves are hinged together down one vertical edge. The far
edge of inner leaf (in the centre of the room in your case) is constrained
to move in a straight line by a pin in the top which moves along an upturned
channel in the top of the frame. As the doors open, the hinged joint between
the two leaves swings out into the room.

If you put a bolt in the outer leaf which keeps the hinged joint in line
with the frame, the doors cannot open in the normal way. One thing you
*might* be able to do is to cut a slot in the upturned channel, which lines
up with the guide pin in the "doors closed" position. This would allow the
pin to come out of its channel, and the inner leaf could be opened using the
hinges between the leaves. You may need to cover this slot with something
removeable to stop the pin coming out of its channel when you want to use
the doors "normally".

--
Cheers,
Set Square
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