Abstract: A writing instrument has a main body having front and rear ends and a writing tip at the front end, and a cap detachably attachable to a front portion of the main body to cover the writing tip and detachably attachable to a rear portion of the main body. A first opening is provided in the rear portion of the main body, and a second opening is provided in the cap. The first and second openings are alignable with one another when the cap is detachably attached to the rear portion of the main body to enable a tether to be threaded through the aligned openings for tethering the writing instrument to an object. Alternatively, the tether may be threaded through only the first opening at the rear portion of the main body for tethering the main body to an object. The cap may have a third opening at or near an end thereof, and the tether may alternatively be threaded through the third opening for tethering the cap to an object.

Abstract: A pencil has front and rear barrels mounted on an inner barrel. The rear and inner barrels are axially displaceable as a unit relative to the front barrel to advance a lead, and the rear barrel is angularly displaceable in opposite directions relative to the front and inner barrels to axially extend and retract an eraser. The eraser is carried by an eraser holder having projections which ride in helical grooves formed in the rear barrel, and the eraser holder is prevented from undergoing rotation. Angular displacement of the rear barrel effects axial displacement of the eraser holder so as to extend and retract the eraser depending on the direction of angular displacement of the rear barrel.

Abstract: A writing instrument has an inner barrel defining a compartment for storing writing leads, an outer front barrel encircling a forward portion of the inner barrel and an outer rear barrel encircling a rearward portion of the inner barrel. The outer rear barrel is angularly displaceable about the inner barrel but not axially displaceable relative thereto. An eraser holder is mounted within the rearward portion of the inner barrel and holds an elongate eraser which can be extended and retracted in response to angular displacement of the outer rear barrel in opposite directions.