diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
index 7b37e3761e..6987e0e062 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
@@ -470,12 +470,25 @@ OpenLayers.Bounds.prototype = {
 */
 OpenLayers.Bounds.fromString = function(str) {
     var bounds = str.split(",");
-    return new OpenLayers.Bounds(parseFloat(bounds[0]),
-                                 parseFloat(bounds[1]),
-                                 parseFloat(bounds[2]),
-                                 parseFloat(bounds[3]));
+    return OpenLayers.Bounds.fromArray(bounds);
 };
 
+/** Alternative constructor that builds a new OpenLayers.Bounds
+*    from an array
+* 
+* @constructor
+* 
+* @param {Array} bbox Array of bounds values (ex. <i>[5,42,10,45]</i>)
+*
+* @returns New OpenLayers.Bounds object built from the passed-in Array.
+* @type OpenLayers.Bounds
+*/
+OpenLayers.Bounds.fromArray = function(bbox) {
+    return new OpenLayers.Bounds(parseFloat(bbox[0]),
+                                 parseFloat(bbox[1]),
+                                 parseFloat(bbox[2]),
+                                 parseFloat(bbox[3]));
+};
 
 /**
  * @param {String} quadrant