diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
index c681304959..c3dd3bd0b2 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ OpenLayers.Pixel.prototype = {
     * @return whether or not the point passed in as parameter is equal to this
     * @type bool
     */
-    equal:function(px) {
+    equals:function(px) {
         var d = this.diff(px);
         return ((d.x == 0) && (d.y == 0));
     },
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ OpenLayers.LonLat.prototype = {
 
     /** 
     * @return Shortened String representation of OpenLayers.LonLat object. 
-    *         (ex. <i>"5,42"</i>)
+    *         (ex. <i>"5, 42"</i>)
     * @type String
     */
     toShortString:function() {
@@ -234,7 +234,8 @@ OpenLayers.LonLat.prototype = {
 */
 OpenLayers.LonLat.fromString = function(str) {
     var pair = str.split(",");
-    return new OpenLayers.LonLat(pair[0], pair[1]);
+    return new OpenLayers.LonLat(parseFloat(pair[0]), 
+                                 parseFloat(pair[1]));
 };
 
 
@@ -308,7 +309,7 @@ OpenLayers.Bounds.prototype = {
     *         (ex. <i>"5,42,10,45"</i>)
     * @type String
     */
-    toBBOX:function(){
+    toBBOX:function() {
         return (this.minlon + "," + this.minlat + "," + 
                 this.maxlon + "," + this.maxlat);
     },
@@ -340,7 +341,10 @@ OpenLayers.Bounds.prototype = {
 */
 OpenLayers.Bounds.fromString = function(str) {
     var bounds = str.split(",");
-    return new OpenLayers.Bounds(bounds[0],bounds[1],bounds[2],bounds[3]);
+    return new OpenLayers.Bounds(parseFloat(bounds[0]),
+                                 parseFloat(bounds[1]),
+                                 parseFloat(bounds[2]),
+                                 parseFloat(bounds[3]));
 };
 
 OpenLayers.Box = Class.create();