BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION lt is common to provide a supporting wall which includes a wall frame having a plurality of elongate parallel studs extending in a generally vertical direction and a plurality of channel members or noggins extending between and rigidly connecting together adjacent studs. The noggins are generally fixed to the studs by welding and the noggins provide the wall frame with additional strength so that the wall frame is sufficiently strong to withstand typical loads in use. The wall frame also generally includes top and bottom plates fixed to respective upper and lower ends of the studs.

However, while such a wall frame is sufficiently strong, it is laborious and time consuming to construct since it is necessary to fit and weld each noggin separately.

The present invention seeks, among other things, to provide a wall frame which overcomes the above mentioned disadvantage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a wall frame comprising a plurality of elongate substantially parallel studs and at least one elongate channel member extending in a non-parallel direction to the studs, the or each channel member comprising an elongate base member fixedly connected to the studs and a plurality of side members extending from opposite longitudinal sides of the base member to locations intermediate adjacent studs, said side members being disposed

relative to each other so as to define a plurality of gaps, and said studs being receivable in said gaps so as to facilitate connection of the base member to the studs.

In this way, a wall frame of sufficient strength can be constructed in less time than wall frames known hitherto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a wall frame in accordance with the present invention ; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Figure 1 in the direction of the arrows; and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of a blank of a channel member of the wall frame shown in Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 a wall frame 10 having a top plate 12 which in this example is an unlipped C-section member, a bottom plate 14 which in this example is an unlipped C-section member, a plurality of studs 16 extending between the top plate 12 and the bottom plate 14, and a channel member 18 extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the studs 16. Each stud 16 in this example is a lipped C-section member having elongate lip members 20.

The studs 16 are fixed to the top and bottom plates 12,14 by any suitable fixing means, for example by welding or riveting.

The channel member 18 includes an elongate base member 24 of substantially rectangular configuration, and a plurality of side members 26 extending from elongate

sides of the base member 24. The channel member 18 is shown as a blank 22 prior to fabrication in Figure 3. The side members 26 are arranged so as to be regularly spaced along the base member 24 and so as to define a plurality of gaps 28, each gap 28 being substantially transversely aligned with a gap on an opposite side of the base member 24.

The channel member 18 is formed by folding the side members 26 along first 30 and second 32 elongate fold lines so as to form an elongate member of substantially C- shaped transverse cross section. Preferably, the channel member 18 is formed by roll forming the blank 22.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the channel member 18 locates, in use, relative to the studs 16 such that the side members 26 extend into spaces between the studs 16 and the studs 16 are received in the gaps 28. The channel member 18 is fixed to the studs 16 by fixing means 34 which may be welds or rivets or any other suitable fixing means.

While the channel member 18 in this embodiment has been shown extending substantially perpendicular to the studs 16, it will be appreciated that the channel member may extend in a non-perpendicular direction to the studs 16, the gaps 28 being located accordingly so as to facilitate connection of the base member 24 to the studs 16.

While Figures 1 and 2 describe a wall frame 10 including one channel member 18, it will be understood that the wall frame 10 of the present invention may also include a plurality of channel members 18, wherein each channel member 18 is spaced from an adjacent channel member, disposed in co-planar alignment with the wall frame 10.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.