Wall framing system

Claim 1

A wall between a floor and a ceiling, comprising: floor and ceiling rails adapted to be secured to the floor and ceiling respectively, at least one of the rails having a plurality of connector plates projecting substantially vertically therefrom and a plurality of substantially vertical slots in each connector plate; a plurality of substantially vertical studs; coupling means coupling the studs to the rails, the coupling means including slip joint means coupling the studs to the connector plates for relative vertical movement of the studs on the connector plates, the slip joint means comprising a plurality of insert members, each insert member engaging slidably in a respective one of the slots in the connecting plates and extending between the associated connecting plate and stud and thereby spacing the stud from the connecting plate, and fastener means connecting each insert member to the stud; and wall panels secured to the studs; whereby relative vertical movements of the rails are accommodated by the slip joints.