In which specific mechanical applications did functional coiled springs first prominently appear during the 15th century?
Answer
Door locks
The transition of the coiled shape from an ancient artifact to a functional mechanical component occurred significantly later in history. During the 15th century, coiled springs began to be incorporated tangibly into complex machinery. The earliest prominent application noted for these functional coiled parts was within door locks. This marked a crucial step away from just having coiled wire artifacts (which date back to 4,000 BC) towards integrating this shape into devices providing actual mechanical advantage, soon followed by their incorporation into early timekeeping devices like spring-powered clocks of that era.
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