diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Box.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Box.js
index 3cd325e12b..c9f7a3e82d 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Box.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Box.js
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ OpenLayers.Handler.Box = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Handler, {
 
         // depending on the box model, modify width and height to take borders
         // of the box into account
-        var box = this.getBoxCharacteristics(deltaX, deltaY);
+        var box = this.getBoxCharacteristics();
         if (box.newBoxModel) {
             if (xy.x > startX) {
                 this.zoomBox.style.width =
@@ -173,7 +173,17 @@ OpenLayers.Handler.Box = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Handler, {
         }
     },
     
-    getBoxCharacteristics: function(dx, dy) {
+    /**
+     * Method: getCharacteristics
+     * Determines offset and box model for a box.
+     * 
+     * Returns:
+     * {Object} a hash with the following properties:
+     *     - xOffset - Corner offset in x-direction
+     *     - yOffset - Corner offset in y-direction
+     *     - newBoxModel - true for all browsers except IE in quirks mode
+     */
+    getBoxCharacteristics: function() {
         if (!this.boxCharacteristics) {
             var xOffset = parseInt(OpenLayers.Element.getStyle(this.zoomBox,
                 "border-left-width")) + parseInt(OpenLayers.Element.getStyle(