Cricut To Introduce "Imagine" Machine That Both Cuts & Prints?
Provo Craft has been hinting that it has a big new product introduction coming again for CHA Summer 2010. According to recent trademark filings with the US Patent & Trademark office, that machine may be an offering called the Cricut Imagine that will both cut and print - a first for the company as well as for the scrapbook industry's highly competitive electronic die cutting segment.
On March 19th, attorneys for Provo Craft filed an application to receive a trademark on the term "Cricut Imagine". The description for the usage of the trademarked term reads:
Electronic cutting and printing machines for cutting and printing on paper, cardboard, plastic, and other materials in flat form, and accessories therefor; blades for electronic cutting machines
There's also a reference to the term being used to market "Computer software containing fonts and graphics for use in operating electronic cutting and printing machines for cutting and printing on paper, cardboard, plastic, and other materials in flat form" as well as "plastic cutting mats".
The only other Cricut trademark application that refers to printing is the Cricut Script application from 2007. That term was trademarked and used to sell the original "baby bug" machine via QVC, with emphasis on the ability to use the ink-drawing cartridges with it. The trademark for the Cricut Expression machine, filed more recently than the one for the Cricut Script, does not mention printing.
In the past, Provo Craft has applied for trademarks shortly before a product was introduced. The Cricut Cake trademark was only filed for on January 20th, literally two days before the product's public unveiling at the CHA Craft Supershow that preceded CHA Winter 2010 in Anaheim. (Learn more about the Cricut Cake in May's review of the machine and enter to win one in our giveaway.)
