Patent Attorney Profile: Stephen R. Yoder
 Steve Yoder is a patent attorney who worked for 10 years as a product engineer before earning a law degree. While in law school, Steve became a patent agent. Steve gained valuable insight in product development and the process for releasing products to the market while working with Thomas & Betts in Memphis, Tennessee and Tyco Electronics in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Steve Yoder grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was always interested in science. As a youngster, Steve enjoyed participating in science fairs, occasionally winning ribbons for his efforts. Before graduating with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Memphis, Steve set aside two years to serve a mission in Chile, South America, where he became fluent in the Spanish language. Apart from helping inventors obtain patent protection, Steve enjoys fishing with his son and working with his family. Steve can often be found in the kitchen honing his skills as an amateur chef.
Education | Licenses and Registrations | Legal Background | Technical Background | Memberships
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Licenses and Registrations
Steve Yoder is an Attorney licensed to practice law in Tennessee.
Steve Yoder is a Patent Attorney registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to prosecute patents before the USPTO. Steve was a Patent Agent until he obtained a Tennessee Law License as an attorney. Steve received Registration Number 58,118, issued in 2006. In order to be a registered patent agent, Steve had to have a technical degree and pass an examination, the Patent Bar, given by the PTO. Steve passed the Patent Bar as a second year law student while keeping up a full-time work schedule.
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Legal Background
At Knox Patents, Steve Yoder performs patent searches, prepares patent applications, and fights for our clients during the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) examination of patent applications. Steve prepares and prosecutes patent applications in the mechanical and electrical arts.
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Technical Background
Steve Yoder worked as a product engineer with Thomas & Betts and Tyco Electronics. For over ten years, Steve designed and developed electronic connectors. In 2001 he was awarded Patent Number 6,247,947 for his work on the SD Memory Card Connector. Steve has worked with manufacturing facilities throughout the world, including Taiwan and Mexico.
Steve has also been involved with on-going maintenance requirements of a mature product line. This type of work required team leadership skills and innovative approaches to problems and Steve has risen to that challenge throughout his career. Much of Steve's work involved the maintenance of a growing terminal block product line. As a product engineer, Steve was responsible for designing product that would meet the customer's specifications. Oftentimes, Steve provided custom solutions for specific applications.
While attending The University of Memphis, Steve Yoder worked as an engineering intern with United Technologies Carrier in Collierville, TN. As an intern, Steve developed incoming inspection procedures for the quality assurance department. Steve also programmed controllers for evaluation of a number of thermostats and fan blades used in residential air conditioning units. In addition to his quality assurance programs, he developed and maintained a database for tracking employee performance for Carrier's human resources department.
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