Systems to improve wearability and comfort of headwear and related methods

1 . A headwear securing system comprising:

an outer ring having opposing inner and outer surfaces and a first circumference;

an inner ring having a second circumference less than the first circumference of the outer ring such that the inner ring is configured to be received entirely within a volume circumscribed by the outer ring, the inner ring having:

opposing inner and outer surfaces; and

one or more receptacles, each coupled to the inner surface of the inner ring and defining a receiving space;

a headband that has:

first and second ends;

opposing upper and lower surfaces; and

front and rear edges that each connect the upper surface to the lower surface and extend between the first and second ends;

wherein the headband is curved such that the front and rear edges of the headband each subtend an angle that is greater than or equal to 180° between the first and second ends; and

one or more tabs, wherein each of the one or more tabs:

is coupled to and extends away from the upper surface of the headband; and

is configured to be received in the receiving space defined by a respective one of the one or more receptacles such that the one or more tabs releasably engages the one or more receptacles;

wherein the inner ring is configured to be received entirely within the volume circumscribed by the outer ring such that:

the outer surface of the inner ring faces the inner surface of the outer ring and the inner ring is obscured from view by the outer ring; and

when the one or more tabs are each received in the receiving space defined by a respective one of the one or more receptacles: (i) an upper portion of the headband is disposed in the volume circumscribed by the outer ring; and (ii) the first and second ends of the headband are disposed entirely below the volume circumscribed by the outer ring and extending downwardly away from the outer and inner rings for engagement with respective sides of a wearer's head.

2 . The headwear securing system of claim 1 , wherein:

the one or more receptacles comprise first and second receptacles;

the one or more tabs comprise first and second tabs, each configured to be received in the receiving space defined by a respective one of the first and second receptacles; and

when the inner ring is received in the volume circumscribed by the outer ring, a transverse axis of the volume extends through the first and second receptacles.

3 . The headwear securing system of claim 1 , wherein the volume circumscribed by the outer ring has an elliptical cross-section.

4 . The headwear securing system of claim 3 , wherein:

the one or more receptacles comprise first and second receptacles;

the one or more tabs comprise first and second tabs, each configured to be received in the receiving space defined by a respective one of the first and second receptacles; and

when the inner ring is received in the volume circumscribed by the outer ring, a minor axis of the elliptical cross-section of the volume extends through the first and second receptacles.

5 . The headwear securing system of claim 3 , wherein:

a major axis of the elliptical cross-section of the volume circumscribed by the outer ring is between 13.5 and 14.5 centimeters; and

a minor axis of the elliptical cross-section of the volume circumscribed by the outer ring is between 11.5 and 12.5 centimeters.

6 . The headwear securing system of claim 1 , wherein a maximum transverse dimension of the inner ring is within 5% of a maximum transverse dimension of the volume circumscribed by the outer ring.

7 . The headwear securing system of claim 1 , wherein when the inner ring is received in the volume circumscribed by the outer ring, along at least a majority of the outer surface of the inner ring a distance between the outer surface of the inner ring and the inner surface of the outer ring is less than or equal to 3 millimeters.

8 . The headwear securing system of claim 1 , wherein:

the outer ring comprises a lip coupled to and extending away from the inner surface of the outer ring; and

the inner ring is configured to abut the lip of the outer ring when the inner ring is received in the volume circumscribed by the outer ring.

9 . The headwear securing system of claim 1 , wherein:

each of the one or more receptacles comprises a ledge having an upper surface that is perpendicular to the inner surface of the inner ring; and

each of the one or more tabs comprises a protrusion having upper and lower surfaces, wherein when the one or more tabs is received in the receiving space defined by a respective one of the one or more receptacles:

the upper surface of the protrusion is angularly disposed relative to the upper surface of the ledge of the one or more receptacles; and

the lower surface of the protrusion is disposed on the upper surface of the ledge of the one or more receptacles.

10 . The headwear securing system of claim 1 , wherein the headband comprises ten or more protuberances, wherein each of the ten or more protuberances:

is coupled to and extends away from the lower surface of the headband; and

has a length that is less than or equal to 5 millimeters.

11 . An academic cap comprising:

a board;

a skullcap that is coupled to and underlies the board, comprises fabric, and has an edge that is not fixed to the board; and

a headwear securing system comprising:

an outer ring having opposing inner and outer surfaces and a first circumference;

an inner ring having a second circumference less than the first circumference of the outer ring such that the inner ring is configured to be received entirely within a volume circumscribed by the outer ring such that the inner ring can be obscured from view by the outer ring, the inner ring having:

opposing inner and outer surfaces; and

one or more receptacles, each coupled to the inner surface of the inner ring and defining a receiving space;

a headband that has:

first and second ends;

opposing upper and lower surfaces; and

front and rear edges that each connect the upper surface to the lower surface and extend between the first and second ends;

wherein the headband is curved such that the front and rear edges of the headband each subtend an angle that is greater than or equal to 180° between the first and second ends; and

one or more tabs, wherein each of the one or more tabs is coupled to and extends away from the upper surface of the headband;

wherein the outer ring underlies the board, the skullcap is folded over the outer ring, and the inner ring is received entirely within the volume circumscribed by the outer ring such that:

a first portion of the skullcap is disposed along the outer surface of the outer ring;

a second portion of the skullcap that includes the edge of the skullcap is disposed in the volume circumscribed by the outer ring; and

at least some of the second portion of the skullcap is disposed between the inner surface of the outer ring and the outer surface of the inner ring;

wherein each of the one or more tabs is received in the receiving space defined by a respective one of the one or more receptacles such that the one or more tabs is releasably engaged with the one or more receptacles; and

wherein an upper portion of the headband is disposed in the volume circumscribed by the outer ring and the first and second ends of the headband are disposed entirely below the volume circumscribed by the outer ring and extending downwardly away from the outer and inner rings for engagement with respective sides of a wearer's head.

12 . The academic cap of claim 11 , wherein the volume circumscribed by the outer ring has an elliptical cross-section.

13 . The academic cap of claim 12 , wherein:

the one or more receptacles comprise first and second receptacles;

the one or more tabs comprise first and second tabs, each received in the receiving space defined by a respective one of the first and second receptacles; and

a minor axis of the elliptical cross-section of the volume extends between the first and second receptacles.

14 . The academic cap of claim 12 , wherein:

a planform of the board is square; and

a major axis of the elliptical cross-section of the volume circumscribed by the outer ring is parallel to a line that extends between first and second vertices of the board through a center of the board.

15 . The academic cap of claim 12 , wherein:

a major axis of the elliptical cross-section of the volume circumscribed by the outer ring is between 13.5 and 14.5 centimeters; and

a minor axis of the elliptical cross-section of the volume circumscribed by the outer ring is between 11.5 and 12.5 centimeters.

16 . The academic cap of claim 12 , wherein a maximum transverse dimension of the inner ring is within 5% of a maximum transverse dimension of the volume circumscribed by the outer ring.

17 . The academic cap of claim 11 , wherein along at least a majority of the outer surface of the inner ring a distance between the outer surface of the inner ring and the inner surface of the outer ring is less than or equal to 3 millimeters.

18 . The academic cap of claim 11 , wherein:

the outer ring comprises a lip coupled to and extending away from the inner surface of the outer ring; and

the lip is disposed between the inner ring and the board.

19 . The academic cap of claim 11 , wherein:

each of the one or more receptacles comprises a ledge having an upper surface that is perpendicular to the inner surface of the inner ring; and

each of the one or more tabs comprises a protrusion having upper and lower surfaces, wherein for the one or more receptables defining the receiving space in which the one or more tabs is received:

the upper surface of the protrusion is angularly disposed relative to the upper surface of the ledge of the one or more receptacles; and

the lower surface of the protrusion is disposed on the upper surface of the ledge of the one or more receptacles.

20 . The academic cap of claim 11 , wherein the headband comprises ten or more protuberances, wherein each of the ten or more protuberances:

is coupled to and extends away from the lower surface of the headband; and

has a length that is less than or equal to 5 millimeters.