var timeout    = 500;
var closetimer = 0;
var ddmenuitem = 0;

function hoverMenu_open()
{  hoverMenu_canceltimer();
   hoverMenu_close();
   ddmenuitem = $(this).find('ul').css('visibility', 'visible');}

function hoverMenu_close()
{  if(ddmenuitem) ddmenuitem.css('visibility', 'hidden');}

function hoverMenu_timer()
{  closetimer = window.setTimeout(hoverMenu_close, timeout);}

function hoverMenu_canceltimer()
{  if(closetimer)
   {  window.clearTimeout(closetimer);
      closetimer = null;}}